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THE  RECORD  OF  FORT  SUMTER, 


FROM 


ITS  OCCUPATION  BY  MAJOR  ANDERSON, 


TO 


ITS  KEDUCTION  BY  SOUTH  CAROLINA  TROOPS, 


DUEINQ    THE   ADMINISTRATION   OF 


GOVERNOR     PICKENS. 


COMPILED  BY  W.  A.  HARRIS. 


"Tho  danger  of  the  day 's  but  newly  gone, 
Whose  memory  is  written  on  the  earth. 
With  yet-appearing  blood." — Shakespeare. 


COLUMBIA,  S.  C: 

SOUTH  CAROLINIAN  STEAM  JOB   PRINTINU  OFFICE. 

1862. 


'4^yJleylCAxx        Oyi^A'(ft^^^'' 


THE  RECORD  OF  FORT  SUMTER, 


FROM 


ITS  OCCUPATION  BY  MAJOR  ANDERSON, 


ITS  REDUCTION  BY  SOUTH  CAROLINA  TROOPS 


DURING   THE   ADMINISTRATION    OP 


GOVERNOR     PICKENS 


COMPILED  BY  W.  A.  HARRIS. 


"  The  danger  of  the  day  's  but  newly  gon^, 
Whose  memory  is  written  on  the  earth, 
With  yet-appearing  blood." — Shakespeare. 


COLUMBIA,  S.  C: 

SOUTH   CAROLINIAN  STEAM  JOB   PRINTING   OFFICE. 

1862. 


CERTIFICATE. 


Executive  Department,  April  4,  1862. 
To  W.  A.  Harris,  Esq.,  Columbia,  S.  C.  : 

My  Dear  Sir  :   In  conformity  with  your  request,  I  have  compared  the 
proof  sheets  you  sent  me  in  relation  to  Fort  Sumter,  with  the  original  docu- 
ments on  file  in  this  office,  and  take  pleasure  in  stating  that  they  are,  in 
every  respect,  true  and  correct  copies  of  the  originals. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
•  Your  obedient  servant, 

F.  J.  MOSES,  Jr., 

Private  Secretary. 


T..1^ 


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^tate  of  ^outli  Olaroliini. 


HEAD    QUARTERS. 


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PREFACE. 


Early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  December,  1860,  the  smok- 
ing ruins  of  Fort  Moultrie,  and  the  evident  activity  pervading  Fort 
Sumter,  gave  evidence  of  the  fact  that  Fort  Moultrie  had  been 
deserted  by  the  United  States  garrison,  and  that  they  had  taken 
possession  of  Fort  Sumter,  as  the  key  of  the  liarbor  of  Charleston. 
The  prompt  orders  instantly  issued  by  Governor  Pickens,  that  the 
South  Carolina  troops  should  take  possession  of  Castle  Pinckney 
and  Fort  Moultrie  on  the  same  day — the  immediate  capture  of 
these  forts  in  obedience  to  said  orders — the  hauling  down  of  the 
stars  and  stripes  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our  country — 
the  running  up  in  their  stead  of  the  Palmetto  banner — and  the 
State  of  South  Carolina  thus  defying  the  power  of  the  United 
States — was  the  actual  commencement  of  this  great  revolution. 

After  these  important  movements,  the  approach  of  the  "  Star  of 
the  West"  and  her  prompt  repulse,  and  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter 
by  the  South  Carolina  troops,  are  among  the  most  interesting  events 
of  the  commencement  of  this  struggle.  It  certainly  required  the 
highest  courage  and  the  purest  patriotism  to  take  tliese  prom])t  and 
defiant  steps,  for  our  Governor  was  opposed  in  tliem  by  many 
around  him,  but  his  large  experience  enabled  him  to  foresee  the 
mighty  consequences  which  would  foll^v  liis  action  on  these  points. 
He  well  knew,  too,  that  in  thus  taking  the  first  steps  to  establish 
South  Carolina  as  a  free  and  independent  State,  he  had  severed 
forever  the  bonds  of  this  stupendous  re])ublic.  In  sovereign  conven- 
tion assembled,  the  people  of  South  Carolina  had  calmly  and  de- 
liberately resolved  to  sever  their  connection  with  the  United  States 
Government,  a  portion  of  wliich  Government,  wliile  professing  to 
liold  together  the  States  which  formed  it  in  lasting  bonds  of  amity 
and  concord,  was  attempting  to  raise  to  tlie  presidential  chair  the 
champion  of  a  party  which  held  as  its  watchword  the  extinction  of 
the  dearest  institution  of  the  Southern  States.  The  flight  of  events, 
from  the  adoption  of  the  Ordinance  of  Secession  by  the  people  of 
South  Carolina,  to  the  period  of  the  inauguration  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy,  miglit  be,  ])crlia]:)s,  too  ra])id  and  startling  to  be  re- 


^to^^Z.^ 


corded  in  future  history,  were  not  a  just  and  true  record  of  those 
events  kept  as  they  occurred.  The  object  of  this  pamphlet  is  to 
preserve  for  the  coming  historian  a  verified  record  of  the  action  of 
tlie  people  of  South  Carolina  in  relation  to  Fort  Sumter,  from  the 
time  when  she  declared  herself  a  free  and  independent  State,  up  to 
the  reduction  of  the  proud  fortress  which  frowned  upon  her  in  the 
harbor  of  Charleston,  The  action  of  our  State  in  firing  upon  the 
"  Star  of  the  West"  was  an  event  fully  equal,  in  boldness  and  de- 
cision, to  the  resistance  of  Fort  Moultrie,  in  the  days  of  our  first 
revolution.  By  the  order  of  our  firm  and  patriotic  Governor, 
a  hostile  vessel,  bearing  supplies  and  armed  troops  to  the  fortress 
of  the  United  States  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  was  fired  into 
and  driven  back,  and  was  made  to  bear  the  message  to  an  enemy's 
government,  tluxt  the  voice  of  the  people  of  South  Carolina  was 
not  to  be  looked  upon  as  an  empty  paper  ordinance,  but  was  to  be 
baptized  in  fire,  and  christened,  if  needs  be,  in  a  sea  of  blood. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  1861,  the  first  gun  of  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy against  the  United  States  was  lieard  booming  across  the 
water,  and  on  the  13th  of  April  of  the  same  year,  the  forces  of 
South  Carolina  took  possession  of  Fort  Sumter.  By  the  firing  into 
the  "  Star  of  the  West,"  the  State  of  South  Carolina  commenced 
the  revolution  ;  by  the  reduction  of  Fort  Sumter,  her  people  again 
recorded  their  verdict  of  independence ;  and  in  the  war  thus 
brought  on.  South  Carolina  is  acting  a  noble  and  a  gallant  part. 

These  pages  form  the  record  of  these  important  events,  and  this 
])aniphlet  is  commended  to  Uie  people  of  South  Carolina,  as  a  last- 
ing memento  of  tlieir  gallant  action.  Many  histories  will  hereafter 
be  written.  May  the  bravery  of  the  South  Carolinians  in  com- 
mencing the  struggle  augment  in  proportion  to  the  continuance  of 
the  war,  and  may  her  people  never  have  cause  to  weary  of  the 
Government  which  they  alone  inaugurated. 

The  war  is  not  yet  over ;  around  the  boundaries  of  our  sister 
States  as  well  as  our  own,  it  is  still  raging,  with  ever  increasing 
bitterness.  Let  us  not  forget  that  the  day  is  not  yet  come  for  us  to 
lay  aside  our  armor,  but  remembering  that  the  favor  of  Heaven  is 
ever  with  the  right,  let  us  gain  new  strength  from  every  defeat,  let 
us  gather  new  energy  from  every  victory. 


^ 
t 


> 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Page. 
No.    1.  Letter  from  Governor  Pickens  to  President  Buchanan,  de- 
manding Fort  Sumter 7 

2.  Major  Hamilton's  explanation  as  to  its  delivery  and  with- 

drawal       8 

3.  Colonel  Trescott's  explanation  as  to  the  same 9 

4.  Gren.  Cushing's  mission,  with  letter  from  President  Buchanan 

to  Governor  Pickens 11 

5.  Orders  from   Governor  Pickens  to  Col.  Pettigrew  to  take 

Fort  Moultrie,  &c 12 

6.  General  Orders  from  Governor  Pickens  to  Maj.  Gen.  Schnierle..  12 

7.  Orders  to  Maj.  Gen.  Schnierle  to  take  command  in  person 14 

8.  Gen.  Simons'  Report  upon  the  said  Orders 14 

9.  Governor  Pickens'  Reply  to  Gen.  Simons' Report 17 

10.  Order  to  Gen.  Simons  to  take  command  in  person 19 

11.  Reference  of  Gen.  Simons'  Report  by  Governor  Pickens  to 

Messrs.  Jones  and  Drayton,  and  their  agreement  thei'ciu 20 

12.  Governor  Pickens' endorsement  on  the  same 20 

13.  Governor  Pickens'  order  to  Messrs.  Trapier,  Gwynn  and 

others,  to  report  a  plan  to  reduce  Fort  Sumter 21 

14.  Report  of  plan,  in  obedience  to  above  order 21 

15.  Account  of  the  firing  into  the  "Star  of  the  West" 23 

IG.  Note  from  Major  Anderson  to  Governor  Pickens,  demand- 
ing apology,  and  threat 24 

17.  Governor  Pickens' Reply,  avowing  the  act 2.^ 

18.  Major  Anderson's  Note  to  Governor  Pickens,  expressing 

desire  to  refer  the  matter  to  his  Government  at  Washington..  27 

19.  Governor   Pickens'    Communication    to    Major   Anderson, 

through   Messrs.  Magrath  and  Jamison,  demanding  the 
delivery  of  Fort  Sumter 28 

20.  Major  Anderson's  Reply,  refusing  to  comply  with  demand 28 

21.  Communication  from  Governor  Pickens  to  I'resident  Buch- 

anan by  lion.  I.  W.  Hayne 29 

22.  Instructions  to  lion.  I.  W.  Hayne  from  State  Department 30 

23.  Letter  from  Senators  of  Seceding  States  to  Hon.  I.  W.  Hayne..  32^ 


0 

I'ACfi!. 

No.  24.  Mr.  Hayne  in  reply  thereto 34 

25.  Extract  from  Message  of  Governor  Pickens  to  the  Legisla- 

ture of  South  Carolina,  in  reference  to  the  missions  of 
Messrs.  Fox  and  Lamon 35 

26.  Notice  from  President  Lincoln  to  Governor  Pickens,  by  Mr. 

Chew,  of  his  intention  to  supply  Fort  Sumter 36 

27.  Endorsement  thereon  by  Gov.  Pickens  and  Gen.  Beauregard...  36 

28.  Letter  from  Major  Anderson  to  Adjutant  General  Thomas, 

of  the  U.  S.  Army 37 

29.  Secret  Cabinet  History  in  reference  to  Fort  Sumter 38 

30.  Governor  Pickens'  Speech  to  the  Citizens  of  Charleston, 

the  night  after  the  reduction  of  Fort  Sumter 44 


'.^if.  rrt  rr.-p  c  l.y  H  1 


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Y?///^/-  (Z^V^  ^y^^^y/^^^ 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


No.  1. 

[governor  PICKENS    TO   PRESIDENT  BUCHANAN,  BY   COLONEL  HAMILTON, 
DEMANDING    PEACEABLE    POSSESSION    OF    FORT    SUMTER.] 

Columbia,  December  17,  1860. 
[STRICTLY  CONFIDENTIAL.] 

My  Dear  Sir  :  With  a  sincere  desire  to  prevent  a  collision  of  force,  I 
have  thought  proper  to  address  you  directly  and  truthfully  on  points  of  deep 
and  immediate  interest. 

I  am  authentically  informed  that  the  forts  in  Charleston  harbor  are  now 
being  thoroughly  prepared  to  turn,  with  effect,  their  guns  upon  the  interior 
and  the  city.  Jurisdiction  was  ceded  by  this  State  expressly  for  the  pur- 
pose of  external  defence  from  foreign  invasion,  and'  not  with  any  view  that 
they  should  be  turned  upon  the  State. 

In  an  ordinary  case  of  mob  rebellion,  perhaps  it  might  be  proper  to  pre- 
pare them  for  sudden  outbreak.  But  when  the  people  of  the  State,  in 
sovereign  convention  assembled,  determine  to  resume  their  original  powers 
of  separate  and  independent  sovereignty,  the  whole  question  is  changed, 
and  it  is  no  longer  an  act  of  rebellion.  I,  therefore,  most  respectfully  urge 
that  all  work  on  the  forts  be  put  a  stop  to  for  the  present,  and  that  no  more 
force  may  be  ordered  there. 

The  regular  Convention  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina, 
legally  and  properly  called,  under  our  Constitution,  is  now  in  session,  delib- 
erating upon  the  gravest  and  most  momentous  questions,  and  the  excite- 
ment of  the  great  masses  of  the  people  is  great,  under  a  sense  of  deep 
wrongs,  and  a  profound  necessity  of  doing  something  to  preserve  the  peace 
and  safety  of  the  State. 

To  spare  the  effusion  of  blood,  which  no  human  power  may  be  able  to 
prevent,  I  earnestly  beg  your  immediate  consideration  of  all  the  points  I 
call  your  attention  to.  It  is  not  improbable  that,  under  orders  from  the 
Commandant,  or  perhaps  from  the  Commander-in-Chief,  of  the  army,  the 


alteration  and  defences  of  those  posts* a^e  progressing -without  the  knowledge 
of  yourself  or  the  Secretary  of  War. 

The  Arsenal,  in  the  city  of  Charleston,  with  the  public  arms,  I  am  in- 
formed, was  turned  over,  very  properly,  to  the  keeping  and  defence  of  a 
State  force,  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  Governor  of  South  Carolina.  I 
would  most  respectfully,  and  from  a  sincere  devotion  to  the  public  peace, 
request  that  you  would  allow  me  to  send  a  small  force,  not  exceeding 
twenty-five  men  and  an  officer,  to  take  possession  of  Fort  Sumter  imme- 
diately, in  order  to  give  a  feeling  of  safety  to  the  community.  There  are 
no  United  States  troops  in  that  fort  whatever,  or  perhaps  only  four  or  five, 
at  present,  besides  some  additional  workmen  or  laborers,  lately  employed  to 
put  the  guns  in  order.  If  Fort  Sumter  could  be  given  to  me  as  Grovernor, 
under  a  permission  similar  to  that  by  which  the  Grovernor  was  permitted  to 
keep  the  Arsenal,  with  the  United  States  arms,  in  the  city  of  Charleston, 
then  I  think  the  public  mind  would  be  quieted,  under  a  feeling  of  safety ; 
and  as  the  Convention  is  now  in  full  authority,  it  strikes  me  that  it  could 
be  done  with  perfect  propriety.  I  need  not  go  into  particulars,  for  urgent 
reasons  will  force  themselves  readily  upon  your  consideration. 

If  something  of  the  kind  be  not  done,  I  cannot  answer  for  the  conse- 
quences. 

I  send  this  by  a  private  and  confidential  gentleman,  who  is  authorized  to 
confer  with  Mr.  Trescott  fully,  and  to  receive  through  him  any  answer  you 
may  think  proper  to  give  to  this. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  most  respectfully. 

Yours,  truly, 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 
To  THE  President  op  the  United  States. 


No.  2. 


[statement   op   colonel   HAMILTON,   AS   TO    THE   DELIVERY   OP   GOVER- 
NOR  PICKENS'   LETTER   TO    THE   PRESIDENT.] 

Charleston,  February  1,  1861. 
To  His  Excellency  Governor  Pickens: 

Sir  :  In  accordance  with  the  request  I  have  just  received  from  you,  to 
furnish  you  with  a  statement  of  my  mission  to  President  Buchanan,  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  bearing  your  letter  of  the  17th  December,  1860, 


WWW«IUIi|%JI«i^«iSk<&,  /IL  j_  _     .^j^p^pigiSSv^c 


A. 

9 

demanding  that  Fort  Sumter  should  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the 
Executive  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  I  proceed  to  state  that,  in  ac- 
cordance with  your  instructions,  I  proceeded  to  Washington  with  the  utmost 
haste,  and  on  Thursday,  the  20th  December,  ISGO,  sought  and  procured  a 
private  interview  with  President  Buchanan,  through  the  aid  of  Mr.  Wm. 
Henry  Trescott,  Assistant  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States.  The 
letter  was  read  by  President  Buchanan  in  my  presence,  and  to  my  request 
that  an  answer  was  desired  at  the  earliest  possible  moment,  he  replied  that 
an  answer  should  be  furnished  on  Friday,  the  21st  December,  1860.  In 
the  interim,  however,  Messrs.  Bonham,  McQueen  and  Trescott,  without 
my  knowl%dge  or  consent,  telegraphed  your  Excellency  to  withdraw  your 
letter  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  demanding  posses- 
sion of  Fort  Sumter.  Nor  was  it  until  after  your  answer  to  the  telegram 
of  these  gentlemen,  consenting  to  the  withdrawal  of  the  said  letter,  that  I 
w^as  informed  such  a  telegram  had  been  sent  to  your  Excellency.  The  rea- 
r>on  then  assigned  to  me  for  such  a  course  was,  that  the  delegation  from 
South  Carolina  had  pledged  themselves  for  South  Carolina,  that  if  the 
status  of  the  forts  within  the  harbor  of  Charleston  was  not  changed,  South 
Carolina  would  make  no  attempt  to  take  possession  of  any  of  the  said  forts. 
My  mission  being  thus  terminated,  I  received  the  letter  and  restored  it  to 
your  Excellency's  possession, 

I  am,  sir,  with  sentiments  of  esteem, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  H.  HAMILTON, 
Major  1st  Regiment  S.  C.  V. 


No.  3. 


[colonel   WILLIAM    HENRY   TRESCOTT's  STATEMENT  OF   WITHDRAWAL  Of 
GOVERNOR   PICKENS'  LETTER.] 

Washington,  December  21,  1860. 

To  His  Excellency  F.  W.  Pickens, 

Governor  of  South   Carolina : 

Sir  :  Your  confidential  letter  to  the  President  was  duly  delivered  to  him 

j-esterday  by  D.  IT.  Hamilton,  Esq.,  according  to  your  in.structions.     It  waa 

withdrawn  (no  copy  having  been  taken)  this  morning  by  me,  under  the 

authority  of  your  telegraphic  dispatch.    Its  withdrawal  was  most  opportune. 


10 

It  reached  bere  under  circumstances  which  you  could, not  have  anticipated, 
and  it  produced  the  following  effect  upon  the  President : 

He  had  removed  Col.  Gardiner  from  command  at  Fort  Moultrie,  for 
carrying  ammunition  from  the  Arsenal  at  Charleston;  he  had  refused  to  send 
reinforcements  to  the  garrison  there  ;  he  had  accepted  the  resignation  of  the 
oldest,  most  eminent  and  highest  member  of  his  Cabinet,  rather  than  con- 
sent to  send  additional  force,  and  the  night  before  your  letter  arrived,  upon 
a  telegraphic  communication  that  arms  had  been  removed  from  the  Arsenal 
to  Fort  Moultrie,  the  Department  of  War  had  issued  prompt  orders,  by  tele- 
graph, to  the  officer  removing  them,  to  restore  them  immediately.  He 
had  done  this  upon  his  determination  to  avoid  all  risk  of  collision,  and  upon 
the  written  assurance  of  the  majority  of  the  Congressional  Delegation  from 
the  State  that  they  did  not  believe  there  was  any  danger  of  an  attack  upon 
the  forts  before  the  passage  of  the  Ordinance,  and  an  expression  of  their 
trust  and  hope  that  there  would  be  none  after,  until  the  State  had  sent  Com- 
missioners here.  His  course  had  been  violently  denounced  by  the  Northern 
press,  and  an  effort  was  being  made  to  institute  a  Congressional  investigation. 
At  that  moment  he  could  not  have  gone  to  the  extent  of  action  you  desired, 
and  I  felt  confident  that  if  forced  to  answer  your  letter  then,  he  would  have 
taken  such  ground  as  would  have  prevented  his  even  approaching  it  here- 
after, a  possibility  not  at  all  improbable,  and  which  ought  to  be  kept  open. 
I  considered,  also,  that  the  chance  of  public  investigation  rendered  the 
utmost  caution  necessary  as  to  any  communications  from  the  State,  and  hav- 
ing presented  the  letter,  and  ascertained  what  the  nature  of  the  reply  would 
be,  you  had  all  the  advantage  of  knowing  the  truth,  without  the  disadvantage 
of  having  it  put  on  record.  Besides  this,  the  President  seemed  to  think  that 
your  request  was  based  upon  the  impossibility  of  your  restraining  the  spirit 
of  our  people ;  an  interpretation  which  did  you  injustice,  and  the  possibility 
of  which  I  deemed  it  due  to  you  to  avoid.  He  also  appeared  to  labor  under 
the  impression  that  the  rejjresentations  of  the  members  of  Congress  and  your 
own  differed  essentially,  and  this,  I  thought,  on  account  of  both,  should  not 
be  stated  in  any  reply  to  you.  I  was  also  perfectly  satisfied  that  the  status 
of  the  garrisons  would  not  be  disturbed. 

Under  these  circumstances,  if  I  had  been  acting  under  formal  credentials 
from  you,  and  the  letter  had  been  unsealed,  I  would  have  delayed  its  presen- 
tation for  some  hours,  until  I  could  have  telegraphed  you,  but  that  was  im- 
possible. As  Mr.  Hamilton,  therefore,  had  brought  with  him  Grcneral 
McQueen  and  General  Bonham,  when  he  called  upon  me  and  delivered  the 
letter,  and  had  even  gone  so  far  as  to  express  the  wish  that  they  should  be 
present  when  he  delivered  it  to  the  President,  a  proposition  which  they  de- 
clined, however,  I  deemed  it  not  indiscreet  nor  in  violation  of  the  discretion- 
ary confidence  which  your  letter  implied,  to  take  their  counsel.     We  agreed 


1=: 


-:y 


11 

perfectly,  and  the  result  was  the  telegraphic  dispatch  of  last  night.  The 
withdrawal  of  the  letter  was  a  great  relief  to  the  President,  who  is  most 
earnestly  anxious  to  avoid  an  issue  with  the  State  or  its  authorities,  and  I 
think,  has  encouraged  his  disposition  to  go  as  far  as  he  can  in  this  matter, 
and  to  treat  those  who  may  represent  the  State  with  perfect  frankness. 

.  I  have  had,  this  morning,  an  intex'view  with  Gov.  Floyd,  the  Secretary  of 
War.  No  order  has  been  issued  that  will  at  all  disturb  the  present  condi- 
tion of  the  garrisons,  and  while  I  cannot  even  here  venture  into  details, 
which  are  too  confidential  to  be  risked  in  any  way,  I  am  prepared  to  say, 
with  a  full  sense  of  the  responsibility,  that  nothing  will  be  done  which  will 
cither  do  you  injury  or  properly  create  alarm.  Of  course,  when  your  Com- 
missioners have  succeeded  or  failed  to  efi"ect  their  negotiations,  the  whole 
issue  is  fairly  before  you,  to  be  met  as  courage,  honor  and  wisdom  may 
direct. 

My  delay  in  answering  your  telegraph  concerning  Col.  Huger,  was  caused 
by  his  absence  from  this  place.  He  came,  in  reply  to  my  telegraph,  last 
night,  and  this  morning  I  telegraphed  you  his  decision,  which  I  presume 
he  has  explained  by  a  letter  of  this  same  date.  As  Dr.  Hamilton  leaves 
this  evening,  I  have  only  time  to  write  this  hurried  letter,  and  am,  sir, 

Very  respectfully, 

WM.  HENRF  TRESCOTT. 

I  enclose  your  confidential  letter  in  this. 


No.  4. 


[letter  from  JAMES  BUCHANAN,  PRESIDENT  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES, 
TO  GOVERNOR  PICKENS,  INTRODUCING  GENERAL  CUSIUNO  AS  AN  AfiENT 
FROM   THE    UNITED    STATES.] 

Washington,  December  18,  1860. 
]\Iy  Dear  Sir  :  From  common  notoriety,  I  assume  the  fact  that  the  State 
of  South  Carolina  is  now  deliberating  on  the  question  of  seceding  from  the 
Union.  Whilst  any  hope  remains  that  this  may  be  prevented,  or  even 
retarded,  so  long  as  to  allow  the  people  of  her  sister  States  an  opportunity 
to  manifest  their  opinion  upon  the  causes  which  have  led  to  this  proceeding, 
it  is  my  duty  to  exert  all  the  means  in  my  power  to  avert  so  dread  a  catas- 
trophe. I  have,  therefore,  deemed  it  advisable  to  send  to  you  the  Hon. 
Caleb  Cushing,  in  whose  integrity,  ability  and   prudence  I  have  full  con- 


12 

fidence,  to  hold  communications  with  you  on  my  behalf,  for  the  purpose  of 
changing  or  modifying  the  contemplated  action  of  the  State  in  the  manner 
I  have  already  suggested. 

Commending  Mr.   Gushing  to  your  kind  attention,  for  his  own  sake  as 
well  as  that  of  the  cause,  I  remain, 

Very  respectfully,  your  friend, 

JAMES  BUCHANAN. 
His  Excellency  Francis  W.  Pickens. 


No.  5. 

[orders   to   colonel   PETTIGREW,    DECEMBER    27    AND    29,    I860.] 

Charleston,  December  27th,  1860. 
Colonel  Pettigrew  : 

Sir  :  You  are  hereby  ordered  to  assemble  the  "Washington  Light  Infantry 
and  the  Meagher  Guards  at  the  Citadel.  Arm  them  there,  and  then  take 
measures  for  occupying  Castle  Pinckney. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


Headquarters,  December  29th,  1860. 
To  Colonel  Pettigrew  : 

Sir  :  Keep  the  strictest  discipline  possible — no  entrance  to  the  fort  to  be 
allowed,  except  with  your  permission.  All  the  heavy  g^uns  towards  Fort 
Sumter  to  be  put  in  the  best  condition,  with  full  supply  of  ammunition — 
the  fort  to  be  defended  to  the  last  extremity.  I  sent  an  order  to  render  an 
inventory,  and  also  orders  to  practice  the  men  with  the  heavy  guns. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


No.  G. 


[general  orders  to   major  general  schnierle,  second  division 
south  carolina  militia.     issued  on  december  31,  i860.] 

Headquarters,  December  31st,  1860. 
To  Major  General  Schnierle  : 

Sir  :  A  detachment  of  infantry,  and  twenty  men  from  an  artillery  com- 
pany, under  Capt.  King — all  under  command  of  Col.  Pettigrew — are  now 


i 


To  Liy.r    rv.,     ru-<  ^'uahlkston,   December  21,   1S60. 

f^ovcrnor   of   South  cJZ  3  ^^ '^'''=  P<'«^'««'°"  ■»  the  name  of  the 
."ove,„e„.  e^eeuted  tt  htt  ItrTrn  1^0^;";^ 


''    ^V.   f^ICKKN.S. 


12 

fidence,  to  hold  communications  with  you  on  my  behalf,  for  the  purpose  of 
changing  or  modifying  the  contemplated  action  of  the  State  in  the  manner 
I  have  already  suggested. 

Commending  Mr.   Gushing  to  your  kind  attention,  for  his  own  sake  as 
well  as  that  of  the  cause,  I  remain, 

Very  respectfully,  your  friend, 

■ JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


[general  orders  to   major  general  schnierle,  second  division 
south  carolina  militia.     issued  on  december  31,  i860.] 

Headquarters,  December  31st,  1860. 
To  Major  G-eneral  Schnierle  : 

Sir  :  A  detachment  of  infantry,  and  twenty  men  from  an  artillery  com- 
pany, under  Capt.  King — all  under  command  of  Col.  Pettigrew — are  now 


13 

in  occupation  of  Castle  Pinckney.  They  are  ordered  to  defend  it  to  the  last 
extremity  from  any  force,  to  keep  up  the  strictest  discipline,  and  to  go  on 
and  put  the  fortress  in  the  best  condition  for  immediate  defence.  Lieuts. 
Gibbes  and  Reynolds,  from  West  Point  Academy,  have  resigned,  and  are 
also  in  Castle  Pinckney,  with  orders  to  instruct  the^men  in  daily  use  of  the 
large  guns. 

Lieut.  Col.  DeSaussure,  with  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  and  seventy 
men  from  an  artillery  regiment,  and  thirty  men  from  Col.  Pettigrew's  rifle 
regiment,  is  in  command  of  Fort  Moultrie,  with  similar  orders  to  those 
given  the  commandant  at  Castle  Pinckney.  Col.  Gwynn,  with  Mr.  Ramsay 
and  Col.  Calhoun  as  assistants,  are  also  in  Fort  Moultrie  as  engineers,  with 
orders  to  raise  immediately  merlins  and  other  works  to  protect  some  five  of 
the  heavy  guns  that  command  Mafllitt's  Channel  from  the  fire  of  Fort 
Sumter  if  possible,  and  to  urge  this  work  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
Temporary  bridges  and  boats,  under  the  direction  of  Col.  Hatch,  Quarter- 
master General,  are  put  across  the  creek  back  of  Sullivan's  Island,  that 
connect  it  with  the  main  land,  so  as,  in  any  great  emergency,  the  force  under 
Col.  DeSaussure  shall  secure  a  retreat.  If  pressed  too  hard  by  the  guns  of 
Fort  Sumter,  they  are  directed  to  retire,  but  occupy  the  Island  as  long  as 
possible  in  any  event. 

A  point  for  a  battery  has  been  selected  by  Col.  Gwynn  and  Col.  Manigault 
on  Sullivan's  Island,  beyond  Fort  Moultrie,  and  out  of  the  range  of  guns 
from  Fort  Sumter,  and  as  soon  as  possible  heavy  columbiads  are  to  be 
placed  there,  in  order  to  endeavor  to  guard  the  harbor,  and  to  prevent  rein- 
forcements to  the  garrison  in  Fort  Sumter.  A  point  has  also  been  selected 
on  Morris'  Island,  beyond  the  guns  of  Fort  Sumter,  by  the  same  officers,  and 
a  battery  is  ordered  there ;  and  Major  Stevens,  of  the  Citadel  Academy, 
with  a  detachment  of  forty  Cadets,  is  ordered  there  now,  to  urge  the  erec- 
tion of  the  battery  forward  as  fa.st  as  possible.  A  detachment  or  company 
of  rifles,  under  Capt.  Tuppcr,  will  be  ordered  there  to-day,  to  assist  in  the 
same  work,  and  also  to  defend  it,  if  a  force  should  be  landed  to  take  it.  At 
present,  two  twenty-four  pounders  are  sent  there,  with  the  intention  to 
increase  and  strengthen  them  as  soon  as  heavy  guns  can  be  got  ready  and 
mounted. 

Capt.  Johnson,  with  a  detachment  of  fifty  men,  is  now  in  possession  of 
Fort  Johnson,  with  orders  to  prevent  an}^  communication  from  Fort  Sumter, 
and  cut  oflf  supplies.  T^'he  orders  given  you  have  been  to  prevent  all  com- 
munication with  Charleston,  also  from  Fort  Sumter,  except  to  allow  the 
oflicers  at  the  fortress  to  have  their  mails,  but  nothing  else. 

You  will  put  yourself  in  communication,  if  necessary,  with  Quartermas- 
ter General  Hatch  and  Commissary  General  Walker  to  assist  you  in  anything 
in  their  departments,  and  also,  with  Col.  Manigault,  Ordnance  oflSccr,  with 


14 

rank  of  Colonel  of  Artillery.  These  arft  the  general  outlines  of  what  I  have 
heretofore  ordered  and  directed  in  the  confusion  of  extraordinary  and  ex- 
citing events,  before  I  had  time  to  consult  fully  as  to  details,  and  when  I 
was  comparatively  unacquainted  with  individual  officers  and  with  details. 

You  are  now  ordered  to  see  and  attend  particularly  to  the  objects  and  the 
different  commands  I  have  detailed  to  you  above,  and  for  this  purpose  you 
are  directed  to  call  into  requisition  and  council  the  valuable  aid  and  co- 
, operation  of  Brigadier  Greneral  Simons. 

The  officers  in  command  at  the  different  posts  will  be  ordered  to  report 
daily  through  General  Simons  and  yourself  to  headquarters. 

Col.  Cuuingham  is  also  in  command  and  possession  of  the  United  States 
Arsenal  in  this  cit}?^,  with  all  the  arms,  &c.,  and  is  ordered  to  make  a  strict 
and  detailed  inventory  of  everything  in  it. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


No.  7. 


[order  to  ma.tor  general  schnierle  to  take  command,  in  person, 

oe  the  forts.] 

Headquarters,  January  1st,  1861. 
To  Major  General  Schnierle  : 

Sir  :  You  are  ordered  to  proceed  immediately  to  Fort  Moultrie  and  take 
charge,  in  person,  of  the  troops  there,  as  well  as  at  Morris'  Island,  Castle 
Pinckney  and  Fort  Johnson,  and  defend  those  positions  to  the  best  of  your 
ability,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  according  to  the  general 
orders  issued  to  you  yesterday  morning;  and  for  this  purpose  you  are 
especially  urged  to  call  to  your  aid  and  immediate  appointment  all  the  ablest 
military  ability  in  your  reach.  Lieutenant  Colonel  DeSaussure  having  ex- 
pressly requested  to  be  relieved  from  his  command  to  attend  to  his  duties  as 
a  member  of  the  Legislature,  his  request  is  hereby  granted. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


No.  8. 
[general  simons'  report.] 

Headquarters,  4th  Brigade,  S.  C.  M., 

Charleston,  January  1,  1861. 
Governor  :  I  have  carefully  considered  the  orders  extended  to  me  by 
the  Major  General,  which  emanated  from  your  Headquarters  yesterday,  and 


J 


15 

the  plan  of  military  operations  and  line  of  defence  therein  set  forth.     I  can- 
not sacrifice  to  matter  of  etiquette,  questions  and  issues  of  such  momentous 
importance  as  now  surround  us.     I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to  report  to  you  my 
opinion  of  the  military  movements  which  have  been  initiated. 
First. — The  line  of  operations  embraces  four  points : 

1.  Fort  Moultrie. 

2.  Castle  Pinckney. 

3.  Fort  Johnson. 

4.  Morris'  Island. 

By  the  map  which  accompanies  these  papers,  it  will  appear  that  your 
lines  of  communication  with  these,  as  at  present  established,  are  directly 
within  the  range  and  effective  power  of  Fort  Sumter — the  citadel  of  the 
harbor — controlling  every  point.  At  the  first  return  fire  from  Fort  Sumter, 
your  lines  of  communication  are  utterly  cut  oflf  with  every  single  post,  ex- 
cept, perhaps,  Castle  Pinckney.  Let  me  simply  observe,  that  you  are 
indebted  to  the  forbearance  of  the  enemy  for  the  liberty  of  transporting  the 
reinforcements  and  supplies,  which  you  ordered  at  midnight,  and  which  are 
to  be  sent  this  day,  at  two  o'clock,  to  your  battery,  now  in  course  of  erec- 
tion on  Morris'  Island.  A  single  gun  from  Fort  Sumter  would  sink  your 
transport,  and  destroy  your  troops  and  supplies.  These  lines  of  communica- 
tion are  the  prime  consideration  of  a  General.  It  is  vain  to  say  others  will 
be  adopted.  It  is  enough  that  they  do  not  exist  now ;  and,  when  the  present 
resources  fail,  your  troops  will  be  wholly  isolated,  and  cut  off"  from  each  other 
and  the  main. 

Second. — Fort  Moultrie. 

This  post  is  wholly  untenable.  Lieutenant  Colonel  DeSaussure,  a  brave 
officer,  gave  you  prompt  notice  of  this  fact  on  the  morning  after  his 
occupation.  His  report,  this  morning,  shows  you  the  irrefragable  proof  of 
his  first  report,  after  nearl}-  a  week's  occupation  of  the  post.  Moreover,  he 
asks  for  supplies,  which  he  applied  to  you  for  on  the  30th  ultimo.  He 
urges  me  to  supply  these  wants  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment.  Sup- 
pose he  has  them,  however,  there  is  probably  not  a  single  man  out  of  the 
whole  force  which  he  carried  down,  who  ever  loaded  a  siege  gun,  or,  per- 
haps, ever  handled  a  single  gun  of  heavy  calibre,  munition  or  implement, 
mentioned  in  the  report.  I  know,  and  state  as  a  fact,  that  there  is  no 
ordnance  force  in  his  whole  command.  His  post  must,  even  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances,  fall  to  the  enemy,  after  a  very  short  and 
bloody  contest. 

Suppose  they  evacuate  the  post,  where  will  they  entrench  ihemsclvcs  ? 
Shall  they  resort  to  the  sandhills?  If  the  enemy  be  reinforced  by  two 
hundred  and  fifty  United  States  artillery,  as  is  reported,  he  can  land  two 
hundred  men  under  the   guns  of  Fort  Moultrie,  and  attack  Lieutenant 


16 

Colonel  DeSaussure's  command — an  unequal  contest  between  disciplined 
veteran  troops,  commanded  by  educated  and  experienced  ofl&cers,  and  raw 
militia,  who  never  saw  battle. 

In  the  event  of  discomfiture  to  these  brave  young  men,  how  can  they 
make  trood  their  retreat  from  these  sandhills  ?  Will  it  be  said,  there  will 
be  a  causeway  to  the  mainland,  or  other  communication  ?  The  answer  is  : 
The  communication  does  not  exist  now,  and  the  issue  will  be  upon  us  in  less 
than  thirty  hours. 

Third. — Fort  Johnson. 

This  post  is  garrisoned  by  Light  Infantry,  or  rifles,  who  never  handled  a 
heavy  gun,  if  there  be  such  a  gun  or  any  munitions  in  the  dilapidated  post 
they  now  occupy.  At  any  rate,  a  few  shells  from  the  enemy  at  Fort  Sumter 
will  compel  them  to  retire  from  their  position. 

Fourth. — Morris'  Island  Battery. 

Suppose  it  completed,  which  it  is  not,  nor  will  be  in  thirty  hours.  The 
armament  is  three  twenty-four  pounders.  The  force  is  the  corps  of 
Cadets  from  the  Citadel,  and  a  corps  of  rifles;  and  these,  to  be  reinforced 
by  two  more  corps  of  rifles,  not  one  man  of  whom,  probably,  ever  saw  a 
twenty-four  pounder  manipulated  or  fired. 

When  the  Harriet  Lane  approaches,  bows  on,  the  Battery  may  fire  a  shot 
or  two — never  having  been  tried,  the  powder,  the  gun  or  the  range — it  is 
not  even  problematical  whether  they  will  strike  the  enemy.  She  will  steam 
by,  at  fourteen  knots  per  hour,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  the  reinforcements 
will  be  landed  under  the  cannon  of  Fort  Sumter. 

Why,  then,  all  this  preparation  and  expense,  if  the  work  cannot  but 
terminate  in  disastrous  failure  ? 

Suppose,  however,  the  enemy  be  reinforced,  and  not  fire  a  gun  in  reply  to 
the  Morris'  Island  Battery  ?  He  can  demolish  our  other  posts  when  he 
pleases,  from  one  of  the  most  impregnable  fortresses  in  the  world,  and  so 
our  posts  live  at  his  will,  and  remain  in  our  possession  at  his  sufi"erance. 

Suppose,  however,  we  succeed  in  preventing  reinforcements  from  entering 
our  harbor  ?  This  will  not  prevent  the  United  States  Government  from 
enforcing  their  revenue,  for  this  can  be  done  outside  the  Bar  by  a  war 
steamer,  as  well  as  inside  by  the  Harriet  Lane. 

Suppose,  however,  all  your  plans  succeed,  and  Fort  Sumter  were  in  our 
possession,  how  would  we  raise  the  blockade  of  the  war  steamers  outside  ? 

If  the  Harriet  Lane  is  not  fired  into,  the  preparations  are  unnecessary ; 
and  if  she  is  fired  into,  we  have  commenced  open  war. 

I  ask  your  perusal  of  the  report  of  Colonel  Grwynn,  to  me,  this  morning. 
I  have  no  transport  at  hand  to  send  him,  and  have  so  notified  him. 

I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty,  under  all  the  circumstances  above  mentioned,  to 
express  my  conviction  of  the  inexpediency  of  commencing  actual  hostilities 


i 


17 

on  our  side,  in  our  present  wholly  unprepared  state,  with  raw,  undisciplined 
troops,  without  equipments,  munitions  or  proper  arms  required  to  work 
armaments  that  need  the  highest  skill  and  training — nothing  but  bloody 
discomfiture  must  attend  the  opening  campaign. 

You  will  now  require  me,  after  this  review,  to  offer  a  better  plan. 
Deferentially,  and  with  great  diffidence,  I  recommend  that  a  skilled  and 
educated  military  man  be  selected  for  Major  General  in  Chief,  to  command 
all  the  troops,  and  that  he  should  establish  a  plan  of  operations.  Mean- 
while, I  would  recommend  that  amplification  of  the  Ordnance  and  Engineer 
Departments  be  ordered,  and  a  more  effective  organization  of  the  Com- 
missariat and  Quartermaster's  Departments. 

With  great  respect,  I  pray  j'^our  Excellency,  at  this  moment  of  great 
peril,  to  take  into  consideration  what  has  been  herein  submitted,  and  to  lay 
the  matter  speedily  before  a  Council  of  War,  in  accordance  with  the  custom 
of  armies  engaged  in  active  operations. 
I  am,  with  great  respect. 

Your  Excellency's  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  SIMONS, 
Brigadier  Genei-al  4th  Brigade  of  Infantry,  S.  C.  M. 

To  Hts  Excellency  Governor  Pickens, 

Commander-in-Chief. 


No.  9. 

[governor   PICKENS'   REPLY   TO   REPORT    OF   GENERAL   SIMONS.] 

Headquarters,  January  2,  1861. 
To  Brigadier  General  Simeons  : 

Sir  :  Your  extraordinary  report  I  received  last  night,  and  have  only  to 
say  that  I  do  not  pretend  that  the  orders  and  disposition  of  forces  in 
Charleston  harbor  are  at  all  perfect,  or  beyond  the  criticism  of  military 
rule.  But,  in  the  first  place,  there  was,  when  I  came  to  the  city,  a  distinct 
pledge  of  faith,  between  the  Government  at  Washington  and  those  who 
had  a  right  to  speak  for  South  Carolina,  that  everything  in  the  harbor, 
and  all  the  forts,  should  remain  precisely  as  tlicy  then  were,  and  that  there 
should  be  no  increase  of  force,  or  any  reinforcements  sent  from  abroad, 
until  our  Commissioners  presented  themselves  at  Washington,  and  made 
regular  negotiation  for  the  forts.  I  acted  with  confidence  upon  this  pledge. 
Suddenly  we  were  surprised,  from  the  step  taken  by  Major  Anderson,  now 


18 

acknowledged  and  proclaimed  by  tlie  late  Secretary  of  War  to  be  in  open 
violation  of  tbe  faith  of  tlie  Government.  He  abandoned  Fort  Moultrie, 
and  burnt  and  spiked  the  guns,  and  the  first  report  was  that  he  destroyed 
Fort  Moultrie.  He  transferred  the  garrison  to  Fort  Sumter,  which,  of 
course,  was  the  strong  and  commanding  position.  I  had  thus  suddenly  to 
take  immediate  steps  to  try  and  prevent  the  further  destruction  of  public 
property ;  and  with  this  view,  I  ordered  the  occupation  of  Sullivan's  Island, 
but  not  to  occupy  Fort  Moultrie,  unless  it  could  be  done  without  too  much 
loss,  and  to  reconnoitre  and  ascertain  if  there  were  mines,  as  reported. 
They  found  none ;  and  to  put  out  the  fire  and  prevent  further  destruction, 
they  occupied  the  fort.  And  the  same  grounds  were  taken  as  to  Castle 
Pinckney. 

All  the  orders  issued  expressed  the  objects  as  above.  Then  the  first  step 
taken  was  to  try  and  prevent  reinforcements  to  Fort  Sumter.  With  that 
view,  orders  were  given  to  Colonel  G-wynn,  the  most  experienced  Engineer 
I  could  find  on  the  sudden  emergency,  and  to  Colonel  Manigault,  of  the 
Ordnance  Board,  to  examine  and  report  if  a  place  on  Morris'  Island  could 
be  selected  to  erect  a  battery,  out  of  the  reach  of  Fort  Sumter,  or  pro- 
tected from  its  guns.  They  reported  such  a  point,  and  I  immediately,  with 
the  limited  means  in  my  possession,  ordered  that  one  should  be  erected,  in 
order  to  try  aud  protect  the  Ship  Channel,  so  as  to  prevent  reinforcements. 
This  was  the  object  of  the  battery,  then  recommended  by  the  most  skillful 
men  I  could,  in  the  confusion,  procure.  Orders  were  also  issued  to  throw 
up  merlons  at  Fort  Moultrie,  and  other  works,  in  order  to  try  and  protect, 
for  the  present,  some  of  the  guns  that  bear  on  the  Ship  Channel  from  being 
silenced  from  Sumter. 

Colonel  Gwynn,  Engineer,  and  Colonel  Manigault,  Ordnance  officer, 
again  reported  it  a  feasible  measure,  and  every  effort  has  been  made  to  erect 
those  works,  and  to  endeavor  to  keep  guns  in  position  at  Fort  Moultrie  to 
protect  the  channel,  and,  if  possible,  prevent  the  reinforcements.  Our 
Commissioners  at  Washington  telegraphed  by  all  means  to  guard  and  pro- 
tect the  channel  and  entrance  at  all  hazards.  Castle  Pinckney  was  kept 
with  a  view,  if  possible,  to  protect  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Charleston, 
and  everything  in  my  power  was  used  to  put  the  guns  in  some  sort  of 
position  for  that  purpose.  Colonel  Manigault  reported  a  proper  place  to 
connect  Sullivan's  Island  with  the  main  land,  by  the  erection  of  boats  as 
temporary  bridges,  so  as  to  provide  for  the  safety  of  the  troops  at  Fort 
Moultrie,  if  compelled,  by  superior  force,  to  retire. 

Fort  Johnson  was  occupied  merely  because  it  was  reported  that  there  was 
public  property  there  that  required  immediate  protection,  and  in  order  to 
prevent  the  garrison  in  Fort  Sumter  from  all  communication,  for  the  present, 
with  that  point,  as  they  were  taking  coal  and  so  forth  from  it. 


HEAD    QUARTERS, 


-i^^^^ 


19 

It  was  well  known,  and  sadly  felt,  as  you  state,  that  our  troops  were  raw 
and  inexperienced ;  but,  under  all  the  circumstances,  I  had  no  alternative 
left  but  to  do  what  has  been  done.  And  if  we  are  to  occupy  no  place, 
because  our  troops  are  raw  and  inexperienced,  then  we  will  have  to  abandon 
the  State,  for  the  same  reason,  if  forces  that  are  regular  arc  ordered  to 
invade  it.  We  calculated  that  if  we  were  weak,  so  were  our  enemies,  to  a 
certain  extent.  Their  regular  force  is  not  strong  enough  to  admit  of  imme- 
diate division  or  transfer.  They  would  be  compelled  to  call  for  volunteers, 
also,  in  the  progress  of  events,  and,  with  the  feeling  in  the  country,  there 
would  be  great  difficulty  in  this  operation.  The  question  was,  not  whether 
we  could  maintain  our  position  in  Charleston  harbor,  with  the  certainty  of 
assistance  and  reinforcements  being  thrown  in  immediately,  but  whether,  in 
the  present  peculiar  state  of  the  country,  and  with  a  weak  garrison  as  to 
numbers,  who  arc  incapable  of  being  divided,  or  any  detachment  being 
sent  out  from  it  to  occupy  any  post  their  guns  might  drive  us  from — 
whether,  under  all  these  circumstances,  we  were  capable  of  maintaining 
our  position  for  the  present,  so  as  to  prevent  reinforcements,  and  to  sustain 
the  direct  and  urgent  request  from  our  Commissioners  at  Washington, 
hoping  that  every  day  might  change  events,  so  as  to  enable  us  to  protect 
the  State  in  the  attitude  she  has  assumed,  of  immediate  independence. 
Colonel  Pettigrew  thinks  if  I  had  not  occupied  Castle  Pinckney  when  I 
did,  that  it,  too,  in  like  manner,  would  have  been  destroyed,  as  Fort  Moul- 
trie, so  far  as  the  guns,  and  so  forth,  were  concerned. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


No.  10. 


[orders   to    brigadier   general   SIMONS   TO    TAKE    COMMAND,   IN    PER- 
SON,  OF   THE    FORTS.] 

Headquarters,  Charleston,  S.  C,  January  2d,  1861. 
To  Brigadier  General  Simons  : 

Sir  :  In  consequence  of  the  sudden  illness  of  General  Schnierle,  you  arc 
ordered  to  proceed  to  Fort  Moultrie  immediately  and  take  charge,  in  person, 
of  tbe  troops  there,  as  well  as  at  Morris'  Island  and  Castle  Pinckney,  and 
Fort  Johnson,  and  defend  those  positions  to  the  best  of  your  ability  under 
all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  according  to  the  general  orders  issued  to 
you  yesterday  morning ;  and  for  this  purpose  you  are  especially  urged  to 
call  to  your  aid  and  immediate  appointment  all  the  ablest  military  ability  in 


20 

/ 
your  reach.     Lieutenant  Colonel  DeSaussure  having  expressly  requested  to 

be  relieved  from  his  command  in  order  to  attend  to  his  duties  as  a  member 

of  the  Legislature,  his  request  is  hereby  granted. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


No.  11. 

[report   op   board   op   ordnance   on   general   SIMONS'   REPORT.] 

Charleston,  January  2,  1861. 
To  His  Excellency  Gov.  F.  W.  Pickens, 

Charleston,  S.  C. : 
Dear  Sir  :  We  received,  at  a  late  hour  last  night,  from  the  hand  of  Aid- 
de-Camp  J.  J.  Lucas,  the  report  of  General  James  Simons,  on  the  Military 
defences  of  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  and,  in  accordance  with  your  instruc- 
tions, beg  leave  to  reply  as  follows : 

We  concur   generally  in  the   military  positions   assumed  by  Brigadier 
General  Simons,  of  the  Fourth  Brigade  South  Carolina  Militia,  together 
with  the  conclusions  thence  deduced,  but  leave  the  question  of  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  Council  of  War  to  the  discretion  of  your  Excellency. 
We  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Very  respectfully, 

JAMES  JONES,  1  lyr     V         f  n     -RA 

THOS.  F.  DKAYTON,   j  ^^^mbers  of  Or.  Bd. 

P.  S. — Within  you  will  also  receive  the  report  of  Brigadier   General 
Simons. 


No.  12. 

[governor's  endorsement  on  the  above  report.] 

January  3,  1861. 

The  Board  concur  in  the  military  positions  assumed  by  General  Simons, 

together  with  the  conclusions  thence  deduced,  but  leave  the  Council  of  War 

to  the  discretion  of  myself     "  The  conclusions"  of  that  report,  I  consider, 

would  be  to  order  troops  from  Fort  Moultrie  and  Sullivan's  Island  and 


VP 


;r'-' 


'£  ^' 


21 

Pinckney,  and  to  abandon  the  attempt  to  keep  out  reinforcements,  and,  in 
fact,  to  yield,  without  a  struggle,  every  point,  and  thus  break  down  the  spirit 
of  our  people,  and  cover  our  cause  with  imbecility  and  probable  ruin. 

I  shall  do  no  such  thing,  nor  shall  I  yield  to  any  Council  of  War  that 
may  drive  me  to  such  "  conclusions." 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


No.  13. 

[orders  to  report  a  plan  for  the  reduction  of  fort  SUMTER.] 

State  of  South  Carolina, 
Executive  Office,  January  9,  1861. 
To  Col.  Gwynn,  Col.  White,  and  Col.  Trapier,  Engineers: 

You  are  ordered  to  come  together,  immediately,  and  consider  and  report 
the  most  favorable  plan  for  operating  upon  Fort  Sumter,  so  as  to  reduce  that 
fortress,  by  batteries  or  other  means  in  our  possession ;  and  for  this  consul- 
tation you  are  authorized  to  have  with  you  Colonel  Manigault,  the  State 
Ordnance  Officer. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


No.  14. 


[report  of  WALTER  GWYNN,  EDWARD  B.  WHITE,  J.  H.  TRAPIER  AND 
EDWARD  MANIGAULT  TO  GOVERNOR  PICKENS,  IN  RELATION  TO  BAT- 
TERIES  TO   REDUCE   FORT   SUMTER.] 

Charleston,  January  10,  1861. 
To  His  Excellency  Governor  Pickens  : 

Sir:  In  obedience  to  the  order  from  Headquarters,  issued  yesterday, 
requiring  us  "  to  come  together  immediately,  and  consider  and  report  the 
most  feasible  plan  for  operating  upon  Fort  Sumter,  so  as  to  reduce  that  for- 
treas  by  batteries,  or  other  means  in  our  possession,"  we  have  the  honor  to 
submit  the  following : 

We  arc  unanimously  and  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that — discarding  all 
other  methods  of  attack  upon  that  fortress  (whether  by  surprise,  by  open 


assault,  or  by  stratagem),  as  uncertain  in  their  results,  and  as,  even  if  suc- 
cessful, involving  probably  much  sacrifice  of  life — our  dependence  and  sole 
reliance  must  be  upon  batteries  of  heavy  ordnance,  at  least  until  a  deep 
impression  has  been  made  upon  the  garrison,  in  its  morale  as  well  as  in  its 
phi/sique,  by  an  incessant  bombardment  and  cannonade  of  many  hours' 
duration.  When  this  impression  shall  have  been  made,  and  a  demand  for  a 
surrender  refused,  we  are  of  opinion  that,  with  its  battlements  mutilated, 
its  embrasures  beaten  in,  and  its  garrison  weakened  by  casualties  and  dis- 
heartened by  surrounding  circumstances,  this  strong  fortress  would  fall,  with 
comparative  ease,  before  an  assaulting  party. 

We  therefore  submit  the  following  plan  of  attack  : 

1st.  We  recommend  that  the  dismantled  battery  at  Fort  Moultrie  be  re- 
stored, and  protected  by  merlons ;  in  other  words,  make  of  it  an  embrasure 
battery. 

2d.  That  a  mortar  battery  of  two  (2)  mortars  be  erected  on  Sullivan's 
Island,  at  a  point  West  of  Fort  Moultrie,  and  as  near  Fort  Sumter  as  pos- 
sible. 

3d.  That  a  mortar  battery  of  four  (4)  mortars  be  erected  at  Fort 
Johnson. 

4th.  That  a  mortar  battery  of  two  (2)  mortars  be  erected  at  Cummings' 
Point;  and  also  at  this  point  a  battery  of  three  (3)  eight-inch  Columbiads. 

5th.  That  the  implements  and  equipments  and  mountings  for  these  bat- 
teries be  ordered  forthwith. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  have  not  in  our  possession,  at  the  present 
moment,  a  greater  number  of  mortars.  We  fear  that  the  eight — which  are 
all  that  we  have,  and  which  we  have  posted  as  above — may  be  inadequate 
to  the  task  imposed  upon  them,  and  we  therefore  urgently  recommend  the 
purchase  of  seven  (7)  more  heavy  ten-inch  mortars. 

Though  not  precisely  entering  as  an  element  in  the  subject-matter  of  the 
plan  of  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter,  still,  as  germain  to  it,  and  as  a  measure  of 
vital  importance  in  a  future  project,  should  our  plan  for  reducing  that  place 
fail,  we  take  the  liberty  respectfully  but  earnestly  to  recommend  the  erec- 
tion, forthwith,  of  a  gun  battery  of  heavy  guns,  at  about  one  thousand  four 
hundred  yards  East  from  Fort  Moultrie.  This  point  completely  commands 
the  Maffitt  Channel;  and  supposing  our  failure  at  Fort  Sumter,  and  further 
supposing  Fort  Moultrie  rendered  untenable,  as  the  result  of  the  cannonade 
from  Fort  Sumter,  still,  by  blocking  up  all  the  other  channels  to  this  city 
except  the  Maffitt  Channel,  and  defending  this  as  above  recommended,  the 
slow  (but  sure)  process  of  starvation  would  yet  put  Fort  Sumter  in  our 
possession. 

We  deem  it  our  duty,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  eflforts  are  being  made  by 
the  Government  at  Washington  to  reinforce  their  garrison  at  Fort  Sumter — 


THE  NEW  FLAG  OF  THE  STATE  OF  SOUTH 
CAROLINA. 


23 

an  event  which,  of  course,  would  render  the  means  of  attack  now  at  our 
command  still  more  inadequate  to  the  end  in  view — we  venture  still  further 
to  recommend  and  urge  upon  your  Excellency  the  importance  of  immediate 
preparation  for  attack  with  the  means  we  now  have. 
All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

WALTER  GWYNN, 
EDWARD  B.  WHITE, 
J.  H.  TRAPIER, 

Captain  Engineers. 
EDWARD  MANIGAULT, 

Colonel  of  Ordnance. 


No.  15. 


[account   op    the   firing   into   the   "  star   of  the  west,"  taken 

FROM   THE   CHARLESTON    COURIER,   OF   JANUARY    IOtH,    1861.] 

The  first  gun  of  the  new  struggle  for  independence,  (if  struggle  there  is 
to  be,)  has  been  fired,  and  Federal  power  has  received  its  first  repulse. 

About  seven  o'clock,  yesterday  morning,  our  citizens  were  startled  by  the 
firing  of  heavy  guns  in  the  direction  of  Sullivan's  and  Morris'  Islands.  It 
was  at  once  surmised  that  the  steamship  "  Star  of  the  West,"  which  had 
been  reported  by  the  special  telegraphic  correspondent  of  the  Mercury  as 
having  left  New  York  with  reinforcements  and  stores  for  Major  Anderson, 
had  attempted  to  pass  the  battery  on  Morris'  Island.  Our  reporters  were 
immediately  despatched  to  the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  and,  after  visiting 
all  the  fortifications  now  occupied  by  our  troops,  the  following  facts  were 
elicited  : 

Particulars  of  the  Affair. — Yesterday  morning,  shortly  after 
"  reveille,"  the  sentries  on  Morris  Island  reported  a  steamship  standing  in 
for  the  Ship  Channel.  The  long  roll  was  immediately  beat,  and  all  the  troops 
were  promptly  under  arms,  Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  L.  Branch,  of  the 
Regiment  of  Rifles,  commanding.  These  comprised  the  Vigilant  Rifles, 
German  Riflemen,  Zouave  Cadets,  and  a  detachment  of  forty  from  the 
Citadel  Cadet  corps.  The  last  named  body  were  at  once  marched  to  the 
battery,  commanding  the  Ship  Channel,  which,  at  this  point,  passes  within 
from  one-half  to  three-quarters  of  a  mile  of  the  beach.  At  seven  o'clock, 
when  the  <*  Star  of  the  West''  had  reached  a  point  within  range  of  the 
guns,  Major  Stevens  fired  a  shot  across  her  bows,  as  a  signal  for  her  to  heave 


24 

to.  After  waiting  three  or  four  minutes,  no  diminution  in  the  speed  or 
change  in  the  course  of  the  steamer  could  be  noticed.  A  moment  after, 
the  United  States  flag  was  run  up  at  her  foremast.  The  "  Star  of  the 
West"  continuing  thus  defiantly  to  pursue  her  course  towards  Fort  Sumter, 
the  order  was  given  to  the  men  at  the  Morris'  Island  guns  to  open  fire.  Five 
rounds  were  accordingly  discharged  in  quick  succession.  Two  of  these  are 
reported  to  have  taken  effect,  one  forward  and  the  other  abaft  the  wheel. 
At  the  sixth  discharge,  the  "  Star  of  the  West"  rounded  to,  and  steered 
outwards  towards  the  Bar.  At  the  same  time,  the  ensign,  which  she 
displayed  immediately  after  the  warning  gun,  was  lowered.  Three  more 
shots  were  fired  from  Fort  Morris  and  three  from  Fort  Moultrie;  one  of 
these  latter,  it  is  thought,  took  effect.  A  gentleman  on  the  island  reports 
that  after  the  ''  Star  of  the  West"  had  cleared  the  Bar  and  proceeded  a 
considerable  distance  beyond,  a  steam  propeller,  of  about  three  hundred 
and  fifty  tons  burthen,  joined  her,  apparently  as  a  tender,  and  they  steam- 
ed off  together  in  an  E.  N.  E.  direction. 

Thus  terminated  the  first  attempt  of  the  Federal  Government  to  rein- 
force the  great  stronghold  of  coercion  in  our  harbor.  The  approach  of  the 
"  Star  of  the  West"  to  Fort  Sumter,  taken  in  connection  with  the  facts  that 
her  clearance  was  for  New  Orleans,  and  that  her  troops  were  smuggled 
aboard  outside  the  harbor  of  New  York,  proves  clearly  enough  that  the 
President  has  chosen  the  coercion  policy,  and  that  his  ofiicials  will  not 
hesitate  to  promote  its  success. 


No.  16. 

[major  ANDERSON  TO  THE  GOVERNOR.] 

To  His  Excellency,  the  Governor  op  South  Carolina  : 

Sir  :  Two  of  your  batteries  fired  this  morning  upon  an  unarmed  vessel 
bearing  the  flag  of  my  Government.  As  I  have  not  been  notified  that  war 
has  been  declared  by  South  Carolina  against  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  I  cannot  but  think  that  this  hostile  act  was  committed  without  your 
sanction  or  authority.  Under  that  hope,  and  that  alone,  did  I  refrain  from 
opening  fire  upon  your  batteries. 

I  have  the  honor,  therefore,  respectfully  to  ask  whether  the  above-men- 
tioned act — one  I  believe  without  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  our  country, 
or  of  any  other  civilized  Government — was  committed  in  obedience  to  your 
instructions,  and  to  notify  you  if  it  be  not  disclaimed,  that  I  must  regard  it 


I 


V\ 


GIC  Penue.  Sc. 


MA.Idl,'    I,'(M'.I-.1VT    ANni';L>'S(>N     I'  S  \ 


25 

as  an  act  of  war,  and  that  I  shall  not,  after  a  reasonable  time  for  the  return 
of  my  messenger,  permit  any  vessels  to  pass  within  range  of  the  guns  of  ray 
Fort. 

In  order  to  save,  as  far  as  in  my  power,  the  shedding  of  blood,  I  beg 
that  you  will  have  due  notification  of  this  my  decision,  given  to  all  con- 
cerned. 

Hoping,  however,  that  your  answer  may  be  such  as  will  justify  a  further 
continuance  of  forbearance  on  my  part,  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ROBERT  ANDERSON, 
Major  1st  Artillery  U.  S.  A.,  Commanding. 
Fort  Sumter,  S.  C,  January  9,  1861. 


No.  17. 
[the  governor  to  major  Anderson.] 

State  of  South  Carolina, 
Executive  Office,  Headquarters, 

Charleston,  January  0,  1861. 

Sir  :  Your  letter  has  been  received.  In  it  you  make  certain  statements 
which  very  plainly  show  that  you  have  not  been  fully  informed  by  your 
Government,  of  the  precise  relations  which  now  exist  between  it  and  the 
State  of  South  Carolina.  Official  information  has  been  communicated  to 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  that  the  political  connection,  hereto- 
fore existing  between  the  State  of  South  Carolina  and  the  States  which 
were  known  as  the  United  States,  had  ceased ;  and  that  the  State  of  South 
Carolina  had  resumed  all  the  power  it  had  delegated  to  the  United  States 
under  the  compact  known  as  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  The 
right  which  the  State  of  South  Carolina  possessed  to  change  the  political 
relations  it  held  with  other  States,  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  has  been  solemnly  asserted  by  the  people  of  this  State,  in  Conven- 
tion, and  now  does  not  admit  of  discussion. 

In  anticipation  of  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  of  which  the  President  of 

the  United  States  had  received  official  notification,  it  was  understood  by 

him,  that  sending  any  reinforcements  of  the  troops  of  the  United  States  in 

the  harbor  of  Charleston,  would  be  regarded  by  the  constituted  authorities 

4 


26 

of  the  State  of  South  Carolina  as  an  act  of  hostility;  and,  at  the  same 
time,  it  was  understood  by  him  that  any  change  in  the  occupation  of  the 
forts  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston  would,  in  like  manner,  be  regarded  as  an 
act  of  hostility.  Either  or  both  of  these  events  occurring  during  the  period 
in  which  the  State  of  South  Carolina  constituted  a  part  of  the  United  States, 
was  then  distinctly  notified  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  as  an  act 
or  acts  of  hostility ;  because  either  or  both  would  be  regarded,  and  could 
only  be  intended,  to  dispute  the  right  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina  to  that 
political  independence  which  she  has  always  asserted,  and  will  always 
maintain. 

Whatever  would  have  been,  during  the  continuance  of  this  State  while 
a  member  of  the  United  States,  an  act  of  hostility,  became  much  more 
so,  when  the  State  of  South  Carolina  had  dissolved  its  connection  with  the 
Government  of  the  United  States. 

After  the  secession  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  Fort  Sumter  con- 
tinued in  the  possession  of  troops  of  the  United  States.  How  that  fort  is 
at  this  time  in  the  possession  of  the  troops  of  the  United  States,  is  not  now 
necessary  to  discuss.  It  will  suffice  to  say  that  the  occupancy  of  that  fort 
has  been  regarded  by  the  State  of  South  Carolina  as  the  first  act  of  positive 
hostility  committed  by  the  troops  of  the  United  States  within  the  limits  of 
this  State;  and  was  in  this  light  regarded  as  so  unequivocal,  that  it 
occasioned  the  termination  of  the  negotiations,  then  pending  at  Washington, 
between  the  Commissioners  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina  and  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

The  attempt  to  reinforce  the  troops  now  at  Fort  Sumter,  or  to  retake  and 
resume  possession  of  the  forts  within  the  waters  of  this  State,  which  you 
have  abandoned,  after  spiking  the  guns  placed  there,  and  doing  otherwise 
much  damage,  cannot  be  regarded  by  the  authorities  of  this  State  as 
indicative  of  any  other  purpose  than  the  coercion  of  the  State  by  the  armed 
force  of  the  Grovernment.  To  repel  such  an  attempt  is  too  plainly  its  duty, 
to  allow  it  to  be  discussed.  But,  while  defending  its  waters,  the  authorities 
of  the  State  have  been  careful  so  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  the  State  that  no 
act,  however  necessary  for  its  defence,  should  lead  to  an  useless  waste  of 
life.  Special  agents,  therefore,  have  been  off  the  bar,  to  warn  all  approach- 
ing vessels,  if  armed ;  or  unarmed  and  having  troops  to  reinforce  the  forts 
on  board ;  not  to  enter  the  harbor  of  Charleston ;  and  special  orders  have 
been  given  to  Commanders  of  all  the  forts  and  batteries  not  to  fire  at  such 
vessels  until  a  shot  fired  across  their  bows  would  warn  them  of  the  pro- 
hibition of  the  State. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  Star  of  the  West,  it  is  understood,  thisj 
morning,  attempted  to  enter  this  harbor,  with  troops  on  board ;  and  having 


V 


27 

been  notified  that  she  could  not  enter,  was  fired  into.     The  act  is  perfectly 
justified  by  me. 

In  regard  to  your  threat  in  regard  to  vessels  in  the  harbor,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  say,  that  you  must  judge  of  your  responsibilities.  Your 
position  in  this  harbor  has  been  tolerated  by  the  authorities  of  the  State. 
And  while  the  act  of  which  you  complain  is  in  perfect  consistency  with  the 
rights  and  duties  of  the  State,  it  is  not  perceived  how  far  the  conduct,  which 
you  propose  to  adopt,  can  find  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  any  country,  or  be 
reconciled  with  any  other  purpose  of  your  Government,  than  that  of  impos- 
ing upon  this  State  the  condition  of  a  conquered  province. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 
To  Major  Robert  Anderson, 

Commanding  Fort  Sumter. 


No.  18. 

[major  ANDERSON  TO  THE  GOVERNOR.] 

Headquarters,  Fort  Sumter,  S.  C, 

January  9,  1861. 
To  IIis  Excellency,  F.  W.  Pickens, 

Governor  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina : 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  communication 
of  to-day,  and  to  say  that,  under  the  circumstances,  I  have  deemed  it  proper 
to  refer  the  whole  matter  to  my  Government;  and  that  I  intend  deferring 
the  course  indicated  in  my  note  of  this  morning  until  the  arrival  from 
Washington  of  the  instructions  I  may  receive.  I  have  the  honor,  also,  to 
express  a  hope  that  no  obstructions  will  be  placed  in  the  way  of,  and  that 
you  will  do  mc  the  favor  to  afford  every  facility  to,  the  departure  and  return 
of  the  bearer,  Lieut.  T.  Talbot,  U.  S.  Army,  who  has  been  directed  to  make 
the  journey. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Very  respectfully, 

ROBERT  ANDERSON, 
Major  U.  S.  Army,  Commanding. 


28 

No.  19. 

[the   governor   to    major   ANDERSON.] 

State  op  South  Carolina, 
Executive  Office,  Charleston, 

January  11,  1861. 
To  Major  Kobert  Anderson, 

Commanding  Fort  Sumter : 
Sir  :  I  have  thought  proper,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  peculiar 
state  of  public  affairs  in  the  country  at  present,  to  appoint  the  Hon.  A.  Gr. 
Magrath  and  Gen.  D.  F.  Jamison,  both  members  of  the  Executive  Council, 
and  of  the  highest  position  in  the  State,  to  present  to  you  considerations  of 
the  gravest  public  character,  and  of  the  deepest  interest  to  all  who  depre- 
cate the  improper  waste  of  life,  to  induce  the  delivery  of  Fort  Sumter  to  the 
constituted  authorities  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  with  a  pledge,  on  its 
part,  to  account  for  such  public  property  as  is  under  your  charge. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


No.  20. 

[major  ANDERSON  TO  THE  GOVERNOR.] 

Headquarters,  Fort  Sumter,  S.  C, 

January  11,  1861. 
To  His  Excellency,  F.  W.  Pickens, 

Governor  of  South  Carolina : 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  demand  for 
the  surrender  of  this  fort  to  the  authorities  of  South  Carolina,  and  to  say, 
in  reply,  that  the  demand  is  one  with  which  I  cannot  comply.  Your  Excel- 
lency knows  that  I  have  recently  sent  a  messenger  to  Washington,  and  that 
it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  receive  an  answer  to  my  despatches,  for- 
warded by  him,  at  an  earlier  date  than  next  Monday.  What  the  character 
of  my  instructions  may  be,  I  cannot  foresee. 

Should  your  Excellency  deem  fit,  prior  to  a  resort  to  arms,  to  refer  this 
matter  to  Washington,  it  would  aflFord  me  the  sincerest  pleasure  to  depute 


29 

one  of  my  oflSeers  to  accompany  any  messenger  you  may  deem  proper  to  be 
the  bearer  of  your  demand. 

Hoping  to  God  that  in  this,  and  all  other  matters  in  which  the  honor, 
welfare  and  lives  of  our  fellow-countrymen  are  concerned,  we  shall  so  act  as 
to  meet  His  approval ;  and  deeply  regretting  that  you  have  made  a  demand 
of  me  with  which  I  cannot  comply, 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

With  the  highest  regard, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

EGBERT  ANDERSON, 
Major  U.  S.  Army,  Commanding. 


No.  21. 
[the  governor  to  the  president  of  the  united  states.] 

State  of  South  Carolina, 
Executive  Office,  Headquarters, 

Charleston,  January  11,  1861. 

Sir  :  At  the  time  of  the  separation  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina  from 
the  United  States,  Fort  Sumter  was,  and  still  is,  in  the  possession  of  troops 
of  the  United  States,  under  the  command  of  Major  Anderson.  I  regard 
that  possession  as  not  consistent  with  the  dignity  or  safety  of  the  State  of 
South  Carolina;  and  I  have  this  day  addressed  to  Major  Anderson  a  com- 
munication to  obtain  from  him  the  possession  of  that  I'ort,  by  the  authori- 
ties of  this  State.  The  reply  of  Major  Anderson  informs  me  that  he  has 
no  authority  to  do  what  I  required ;  but  he  desires  a  reference  of  the  demand 
to  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

Under  the  circumstances  now  existing,  and  which  need  no  comment  by 
me,  I  have  determined  to  send  to  you  the  Hon.  I.  W.  Hayne,  the  Attorney 
General  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  and  have  instructed  him  to  demand 
the  delivery  of  Fort  Sumter,  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  to  the  constituted 
authorities  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina. 

The  demand  I  have  made  of  Major  Anderson,  and  which  I  now  make  of 
you,  is  suggested  because  of  my  earnest  desire  to  avoid  the  bloodshed  which 
a  persistence  in  your  attempt  to  retain  the  possession  of  that  fort  will  cause  ; 
and  which  will  be  unavailing  to  secure  you  that  possession,  but  induce  a 
calamity  most  deeply  to  be  deplored. 


30 

If  consequences  so  unhappy  shall  ensue,  I  will  secure  for  this  State,  in 
the  demand  which  I  now  make,  the  satisfaction  of  having  exhausted  every 
attempt  to  avoid  it. 

In  relation  to  the  public  property  of  the  United  States  within  Fort 
Sumter,  the  Hon.  I.  W.  Hayne,  who  will  hand  you  this  communication,  is 
authorized  to  give  you  the  pledge  of  the  State  that  the  valuation  of  such 
property  will  be  accounted  for  by  this  State,  upon  the  adjustment  of  its 
relations  with  the  United  States,  of  which  it  was  a  part. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 
To  THE  President  of  the  United  States. 


No.  22. 


[instructions  from  the  state  department  of  the  executive 
office  to  hon.  i.  w.  hayne.] 

State  op  South  Carolina, 
Executive  Office,  State  Department, 
Charleston,  January  12,  1861. 

Sir  :  The  Governor  has  considered  it  proper,  in  view  of  the  grave  ques- 
tions which  now  affect  the  State  of  South  Carolina  and  the  United  States, 
to  make  a  demand  upon  the  President  of  the  United  States,  for  the 
delivery  to  the  State  of  South  Carolina  of  Fort  Sumter,  now  within  the 
territorial  limits  of  the  State,  and  occupied  by  troops  of  the  United  States. 

The  Convention  of  the  people  of  South  Carolina  authorized  and 
empowered  its  Commissioners  to  enter  into  negotiations  with  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  for  the  delivery  of  forts,  magazines,  light 
houses,  and  other  real  estate  within  the  limits  of  South  Carolina. 

The  circumstances  which  caused  the  interruption  of  that  negotiation  are 
known  to  you  :  with  the  formal  notification  of  its  cessation,  was  the  urgent 
expression  of  the  necessity  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  of  the  United 
States  from  the  harbor  of  Charleston. 

The  interruption  of  these  negotiations  left  all  matters  connected  with 
Fort  Sumter  and  troops  of  the  United  States  within  the  limits  of  this  State, 
affected  by  the  fact  that  the  continued  possession  of  the  fort  was  not 
consistent  with  the  dignity  or  safety  of  the  State,  and  that  an  attempt  to 
reinforce  the  troops  at  that  fort  would  not  be  allowed.  This,  therefore, 
became  a  state  of  hostility    in  consequence  of  which  the  State  of  South 


31 

Carolina  was  placed  in  a  condition  of  defence.  During  the  preparation  for 
this  purpose,  an  attempt  was  made  to  reinforce  Fort  Sumter,  and  repelled. 

You  are  now  instl-ucted  to  proceed  to  "Washington,  and  there,  in  the 
name  of  the  Grovernment  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  enquire  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  whether  it  was  by  his  order  that  troops  of 
the  United  States  were  sent  into  the  harbor  of  Charleston  to  reinforce  Fort 
Sumter ;  if  he  avows  that  order,  you  will  then  enquire,  whether  he  asserts  a 
right  to  introduce  troops  of  the  United  States  within  the  limits  of  this 
State,  to  occupy  Fort  Sumter :  and  you  will,  in  case  of  his  avowal,  inform 
him  that  neither  will  be  permitted,  and  either  will  be  regarded  as  his 
declaration  of  war  against  the  State  of  South  Carolina. 

The  Governor,  to  save  life,  and  determined  to  omit  no  course  of  proceed- 
ing usual  among  civilized  nations,  previous  to  that  condition  of  general 
hostilities  which  belongs  to  war ;  and  not  knowing  under  what  order,  or  by 
what  authority,  Fort  Sumter  is  now  held;  demanded  from  Major  Robert 
Anderson,  now  in  command  of  that  fort,  its  delivery  to  the  State.  That 
officer,  in  his  reply,  has  referred  the  Governor  to  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  at  Washington.  You  will,  therefore,  demand  from  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  of  the  United 
States  from  that  fort,  and  its  delivery  to  the  State  of  South  Carolina. 

You  are  instructed  not  to  allow  any  question  of  property  claimed  by  the 
United  States  to  embarrass  the  assertion  of  the  political  right  of  the  State 
of  South  Carolina  to  the  possession  of  Fort  Sumter.  The  possession  of 
that  fort  by  the  State  is  alone  consistent  with  the  dignity  and  safety  of  the 
State  of  South  Carolina  :  but  such  possession  is  not  inconsistent  with  a  right 
to  compensation  in  money  in  another  Government,  if  it  has  against  the  State 
of  South  Carolina  any  just  claim  connected  with  that  fort.  But  the  posses- 
sion of  the  fort  cannot,  in  regard  to  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  be  com- 
pensated by  any  consideration  of  any  kind  from  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  when  the  possession  of  it  by  the  Government  is  invasive  of 
the  dignity  and  affects  the  safety  of  the  State.  That  possession  cannot 
become  now  a  matter  of  discussion  or  negotiation.  You  will,  therefore, 
require  from  the  President  of  the  United  States  a  positive  and  distinct 
answer  to  your  demand  for  the  delivery  of  the  fort.  And  you  are  further 
authorized  to  give  the  pledge  of  the  State  to  adjust  all  matters  which  may 
be,  and  are  in  their  nature,  susceptible  of  valuation  in  money;  in  the 
manner  most  usual,  and  upon  the  principles  of  equity  and  justice  always 
recognized  by  independent  nations,  for  the  ascertainment  of  their  relative 
rights  and  obligations  in  such  matters. 

You  are  further  instructed  to  say  to  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
that  the  Governor  regards  the  attempt  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  if  avowed,  to  continue  the  possession  of  Fort  Sumter ;  as  inevitably 


32 

leading  to  a  bloody  issue,  a  question  wliicli,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Gover- 
nor, can  liave  but  one  conclusion,  reconcilable  with  a  due  regard  to  tlie 
State  of  South  Carolina,  the  welfare  of  the  other  States  which  now  con- 
stitute the  United  States,  and  that  humanity  which  teaches  all  men,  but 
particularly  those  who  in  authority  control  the  lives  of  others,  to  regard  a 
resort  to  arms  as  the  last  which  should  be  considered.  To  shed  their  blood 
in  defence  of  their  rights  is  a  duty  which  the  citizens  of  the  State  of  South 
Carolina  fully  recognize.  And  in  such  a  cause,  the  Grovernor,  while 
deploring  the  stern  necessity  which  may  compel  him  to  call  for  the  sacrifice, 
will  feel  that  his  obligation  to  preserve  inviolate  the  sacred  rights  of  the 
State  of  South  Carolina,  justify  the  sacrifice  necessary  to  secure  that  end. 
The  Governor  does  not  desire  to  remind  the  President  of  the  responsibili- 
ties which  are  upon  him. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  G.  MAGRATH. 
To  Hon.  I.  W.  Hayne, 

Special  Envoy  from  the  State  of  South  Carolina 

to  the  President  of  the  United  States. 


No.  23. 


[letter    from     the     senators     op     seceding     states     to     HON.    I.    w. 

HAYNE.] 

Washington  City,  January  15,  1861. 
Hon.  Isaac  W.  Hayne: 

Sir  :  We  are  apprised  that  you  visit  Washington,  as  an  Envoy  from  the 
State  of  South  Carolina,  bearing  a  communication  from  the  Governor  of 
your  State  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  relation  to  Fort 
Sumter.  Without  knowing  its  contents,  we  venture  to  request  you  to  defer 
its  delivery  to  the  President  for  a  few  days,  or  until  you  and  he  have  consid- 
ered the  suggestions  which  we  beg  leave  to  submit. 

We  know  that  the  possession  of  Fort  Sumter  by  troops  of  the  United 
States,  coupled  with  the  circumstances  under  which  it  was  taken,  is  the 
chief,  if  not  only,  source  of  difficulty  between  the  Government  of  South 
Carolina  and  that  of  the  United  States.  We  would  add,  that  we,  too,  think 
it  a  just  cause  of  irritation  and  of  apprehension  on  the  part  of  your  State. 


33 

But  we  have  also  assurances,  notwithstanding  the  circumstances  under 
which  Major  Anderson  left  Fort  Moultrie  and  entered  Fort  Sumter  with 
the  forces  under  his  command,  that  it  was  not  taken,  and  is  not  held,  with 
any  hostile  or  unfriendly  purpose  towards  your  State  ;  but  merely  as  property 
of  the  United  States,  which  the  President  deems  it  his  duty  to  protect  and 
preserve. 

Wc  will  not  discuss  the  question  of  right  or  duty  on  the  part  of  either 
Government  touching  that  property,  or  the  late  acts  of  either  in  relation 
thereto ;  but  we  think  that,  without  any  compromise  of  right  or  breach  of 
duty  on  cither  side,  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  matter  of  diflferences 
may  and  should  be  adopted.  We  desire  to  see  such  an  adjustment,  and  to 
prevent  war  or  the  shedding  of  blood.  We  represent  States  which  have 
already  seceded  from  the  TTnited  States,  or  will  have  done  so  before  the  first 
of  February  next,  and  which  will  meet  your  State  in  Convention  on  or 
before  the  fifteenth  of  that  month.  Our  people  feel  that  they  have  a  com- 
mon destiny  with  your  people,  and  expect  to  form  with  them,  in  that  Con- 
vention, a  new  Confederation  and  Provisional  Government.  We  must  and 
will  share  your  fortunes,  suffering  with  you  the  evils  of  war,  if  it  cannot 
be  avoided;  and  enjoying  with  you  the  blessings  of  peace,  if  it  can  be 
preserved.  We,  therefore,  think  it  especially  due  from  South  Carolina  to 
our  States — to  say  nothing  of  other  slaveholding  States — that  she  should, 
as  far  as  she  can  consistently  with  her  honor,  avoid  initiating  hostilities 
between  her  and  the  United  States  or  any  other  power.  We  have  the 
public  declaration  of  the  President  that  he  has  not  the  constitutional  power 
or  the  will  to  make  war  on  South  Carolina,  and  that  the  public  peace  shall 
not  be  disturbed  by  any  act  of  hostility  towards  your  State. 

We,  therefore,  see  no  reason  why  there  may  not  be  a  settlement  of  exist- 
ing difficulties,  if  time  be  given  for  calm  and  deliberate  counsel  with  those 
States  which  are  equally  involved  with  South  Carolina.  We  therefore 
trust  that  an  arrangement  will  be  agreed  on  between  you  and  the  President, 
at  least  till  the  fifteenth  of  February  next;  by  which  time  your  and  our 
States  may,  in  Convention,  devise  a  wise,  just  and  peaceable  solution  of 
existing  difficulties. 

In  the  meantime,  we  think  your  State  should  suffer  Major  Anderson  to 
obtain  necessary  supplies  of  food,  fuel  or  water,  and  enjoy  free  communica- 
tion, by  post  or  special  messenger,  with  the  President;  upon  the  under- 
standing that  the  President  will  not  send  him  reinforcements  during  the 
same  period.  We  propose  to  submit  this  proposition  and  your  answer  to 
the  President. 

If  not  clothed  with  power  to  make  such  arrangement,  then  we  trust  that 
you  will  submit  our  suggestions  to  the  Governor  of  your  State  for  his 
instructions.  Until  you  have  received  and  communicated  his  response  to 
5 


34 

the  President,  of  course  your  State  will  not  attack  Fort  Sumter,  and  the 
President  will  not  offer  to  reinforce  it. 

We  most  respectfully  submit  these  propositions,  in  the  earnest  hope  that 
you,  or  the  proper  authority  of  your  State,  may  accede  to  them. 
We  have  the  honor  to  be. 

With  profound  esteem. 

Your  obedient  servants, 

LOUIS  T.  WIGFALL, 
JOHN  HEMPHILL, 
D.  L.  YULEE, 
S.  R.  MALLORY, 
JEFFERSON  DAVIS, 
C.  C.  CLAY,  Jr., 
BENJAMIN  FITZPATRICK, 
A.  IVERSON, 
JOHN  SLIDELL, 
J.  P.  BENJAMIN. 


No.  24. 


[letter   of   HON.  I.  W.  HAYNE   IN   REPLY   TO    SENATORS   PROM    SECEDING 

STATES.] 

Washington,  January,  1861. 

GrENTLEMEN  :  I  have  just  received  your  communication,  dated  the  15th 
instant.  You  represent,  you  say.  States  which  have  already  seceded  from 
the  United  States,  or  will  have  done  so  before  the  1st  of  February  next, 
and  which  will  meet  South  Carolina  in  Convention,  on  or  before  the  15th 
of  that  month  :  that  your  people  feel  they  have  a  common  destiny  with  our 
people,  and  expect  to  form  with  them  in  that  Convention  a  new  Confederacy 
and  Provisional  Government :  that  you  must  and  will  share  our  fortunes, 
suffering  with  us  the  evils  of  war,  if  it  cannot  be  avoided,  and  enjoying 
with  us  the  blessings  of  peace,  if  it  can  be  preserved. 

I  feel,  gentlemen,  the  force  of  this  appeal,  and,  so  far  as  my  authority 
extends,  most  cheerfully  comply  with  your  request. 

I  am  not  clothed  with  power  to  make  the  arrangements  you  suggest,  but 
provided  you  can  get  assurances,  with  which  you  are  entirely  satisfied,  that 
110  reinforcements  will  be  sent  to  Fort  Sumter  in  the  interval,  and  that  the 


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35 

public  peace  shall  not  be  disturbed  by  auy  act  of  hostility  towards  South 
Carolina,  I  will  refer  your  communication  to  the  authorities  of  South  Caro- 
lina, and,  withholding  their  communication,  with  which  I  am  at  present 
charged,  will  await  further  instructions. 

Major  Anderson  and  his  command,  let  me  assure  you,  do  now  obtain  all 
necessary  supplies  of  food,  (including  fresh  meat  and  vegetables,)  and,  I 
believe,  fuel  and  water;  and  <fo -now  enjoy  free  communication,  by  post 
and  special  messengers,  with  the  President,  and  will  continue  to  do  so, 
certainly,  until  the  door  to  negotiation  shall  be  closed. 

If  your  proposition  is  acceded  to,  you  may  assure  the  President  that  no 
attack  will  be  made  on  Fort  Sumter,  until  a  response  from  the  G-overnor  of 
South  Carolina  has  been  received  by  me,  and  communicated  to  him. 
With  great  consideration  and  profound  esteem. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

ISAAC  W.  IIAYNE, 
Envoy  from  the  Governor  and  Council  of  South  Carolina. 


No.  25. 


[extract   from    message  of   governor  PICKENS   TO  THE  LEGISLATURE, 
AT    THE    EXTRA    SESSION,    NOVEMBER,   1861.] 

After  President  Lincoln  was  inaugurated,  he  sent,  in  the  latter  part  of 
March,  a  confidential  agent,  Mr.  Fox,  who  was  introduced  by  a  gallant 
officer  of  our  navy.  He  said  he  desired  to  visit  Fort  Sumter,  and  that  his 
objects  were  "  entirely  pacific,"  Upon  the  guarantee  of  the  officer  intro- 
ducing him.  Captain  Hartstene,  he  was  permitted  to  visit  Major  Anderson, 
in  company  with  Captain  Hartstene,  expressly  upon  the  pledge  of  "pacific 
purposes."  Notwithstanding  this,  he  actually  reported  a  plan  for  the  rein- 
forcement of  the  garrison  by  force,  which  was  adopted.  Major  Anderson 
protested  against  it.  I  enclose  with  this  a  copy  of  papers,  to  be  used  under 
your  wise  discretion,  which  will  place  these  facts  beyond  controversy. 

In  a  very  few  days  after,  another  confidential  agent,  Colonel  Lamon,  was 
sent  by  the  President,  who  informed  me  that  he  had  come  to  try  and 
arrange  for  the  removal  of  the  garrison,  and,  when  he  returned  from  the 
fort,  a.sked  if  a  war  vessel  could  not  be  allowed  to  remove  them.  I  replied, 
that  no  war  vessel  could  be  allowed  to  enter  the  harbor  on  any  terms.     He 


36 

said  lie  believed  Major  Anderson  preferred  an  ordinary  steamer,  and  I 
agreed  that  the  garrison  might  be  thus  removed.  He  said  he  hoped  to 
return  in  a  very  few  days  for  that  purpose.  Then,  on  the  8th  of  April,  Mr. 
Chew,  an  official  in  the  State  Department,  was  sent,  in  company  with  Lieut. 
Talbot,  and  read  to  me  a  paper,  which  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
he  said,  had  directed  him  to  read  to  me,  in  relation  to  sending  in  supplies  to 
the  fort.  He  gave  me  no  information  as  to  anything,  but  only  read  the 
paper,  and  said  he  was  not  even  directed  to  ask  my  reply. 


No.  26. 


[official     notice     from    president    LINCOLN    OF    HIS     INTENTION     TO 
SUPPLY   FORT    SUMTER    WITH   PROVISIONS.] 

I  am  directed  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  notify  you  to 
expect  an  attempt  will  be  made  to  supply  Fort  Sumter  with  provisions  only, 
and  that  if  such  attempt  be  not  resisted,  no  eiFort  to  throw  in  men,  arms  or 
ammunition  will  be  made,  without  further  notice,  or  in  case  of  an  attack 
upon  the  fort. 


No.  27. 

[endorsement    ON   THE   ABOVE.] 

The  above  was  communicated  to  us  on  the  evening  of  the  eighth  of  April, 
by  Robert  S.  Chew,  of  the  State  Department  in  Washington,  and  Captain 
Talbot  stated  that  it  was  from  the  President  of  the  United  States,  as  did 
Mr.  Chew,  and  was  delivered  to  him  on  the  sixth  instant,  at  Washington ; 
and  this  was  read  in  their  presence  and  admitted. 

F.  W.  PICKENS, 

G.  T.  BEAUREGARD. 


r,KN.  p.'j:  (;..  BY^w:  i  :i-a -ai  h  » 


<y. 


y^^^>3-^ 


37 

No.  28. 

[letter  of  major   ANDERSON,  U.    S.  ARMY,   PROTESTING  AGAINST  FOX's 
PLAN    FOR   RELIEVING    FORT    SUMTER.] 

FoRT  Sumter,  S.  C,  April  8,  1861. 
To  Colonel  L.  Thomas,  Adjutant  General  U.  S.  Army: 

Colonel  :  I  have  the  lionor  to  report  that  the  resumption  of  work  yes- 
terday, Sunday,  at  various  points  on  Morris'  Island,  and  the  vigorous  prose- 
cution of  it  this  morning,  apparently  strengthening  all  the  batteries  which 
are  under  the  fire  of  our  guns,  shows  that  they  either  have  just  received 
some  news  from  Washington,  which  has  put  them  on  the  qui  vive,  or  that 
they  have  received  orders  from  Montgomery  to  commence  operations  here. 
I  am  preparing,  by  the  side  of  my  barbette  guns,  protection  for  our  men 
from  the  shells  which  will  be  almost  continually  bursting  over  or  in  our 
work. 

I  had  the  honor  to  receive,  by  yesterday's  mail,  the  letter  of  the  Hon- 
orable Secretary  of  War,  dated  April  4th,  and  confess  that  what  he  there 
states  surprises  me  very  greatly — following,  as  it  does,  and  contradicting  so 
positively,  the  assurance  Mr.  Crawford  telegraphed  he  was  "  authorized"  to 
make.  I  trust  that  this  matter  will  be  at  once  put  in  a  correct  light ;  as  a 
movement  made  now,  when  the  South  has  been  erroneously  informed  that 
none  such  would  be  attempted,  would  produce  most  disastrous  results 
throughout  our  country.  It  is,  of  course,  now  too  late  for  me  to  give  any 
advice  in  reference  to  the  proposed  scheme  of  Capt.  Fox.  I  fear  that  its 
result  cannot  fail  to  be  disastrous  to  all  concerned.  Even  with  his  boat  at  our 
walls,  the  loss  of  life  (as  I  think  I  mentioned  to  Mr.  Fox)  in  unloading 
her,  will  more  than  pay  for  the  good  to  be  accomplished  by  the  expedition, 
which  keeps  us,  if  I  can  maintain  possession  of  this  work,  out  of  position, 
surrounded  by  strong  works,  which  must  be  carried  to  make  this  fort  of  the 
least  value  to  the  United  States  Government. 

We  have  not  oil  enough  to  keep  a  light  in  the  lantern  for  one  night.  The 
boats  will  have  to,  therefore,  rely  at  night  entirely  upon  other  marks.  I 
ought  to  have  been  informed  that  this  expedition  was  to  come.  Col. 
Lamon's  remark  convinced  me  that  the  idea,  merely  hinted  at  to  me  by 
Capt.  Fox,  would  not  be  carried  out. 

We  shall  strive  to  do  our  duty,  though  I  frankly  say  that  my  heart  is  not 
in  this  war,  which  I  see  is  to  be  thus  commenced.  That  God  will  still  avert 
it,  and  cause  us  to  resort  to  pacific  means  to  maintain  our  rights,  is  my 
ardent  prayer. 

I  am.  Colonel,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ROBERT  ANDERSON, 
Major  1st  Artillery,  Commanding. 


38 
No.  29. 

[secret   cabinet   history   in   reference   to   fort   SUMTER.] 

State  of  South  Carolina, 
Headquarters,,  August  3,  1861. 

I  have  every  reason,  from  information  received  by  me  in  tlie  most  con- 
fidential manner,  (not  forbidding  publication,  however,)  and  through  one 
very  near  the  most  intimate  counsels  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
to  induce  me  to  believe  that  the  following  article  was  submitted,  as  a  proof 
sheet,  to  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  Cabinet;  that  a  proclamation,  in  conformity 
with  its  general  views,  was  to  be  issued ;  and  that  a  change  in  the  decision 
of  the  Cabinet  was  made  in  one  night,  when  exactly  the  contrary  course  was 
adopted.  It  is  asserted  in  this  article,  (which,  in  all  probability,  is  a  proof- 
sheet  from  a  confidential  New  York  paper,)  that  if  the  President  desired  to 
excite  and  madden  the  whole  North  to  a  war  of  extermination  against 
slavery,  and  in  favor  of  the  absolute  plunder  and  conquest  of  the  South,  he 
had  only  to  resolve  that  Major  Anderson  and  his  garrison  at  Fort  Sumter 
should  perish,  as  it  appears  was  well  known  would  have  to  be  the  case. 
Major  Anderson  and  his  men  were  to  be  used  as  fuel,  to  be  thrown  in  to 
kindle  the  flames  of  fanaticism,  and  to  force  the  Northern  people  into  a 
united  war,  which  would  give  the  Abolition  leaders  absolute  control  over  the 
Grovernment  and  country.  What  must  be  the  feelings  of  the  civilized  world, 
when  it  is  known  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  and  his  Cabinet 
did  so  act,  and  with  a  view  expressly  to  carry  out  this  policy  of  exciting  the 
whole  Northern  mind  ? 

Major  Anderson  had  officially  informed  the  former  Administration  that 
he  could  hold  Fort  Sumter;  and,  of  course,  if  the  object  of  that  Adminis- 
tration was  to  betray  the  Grovernment  into  the  hands  of  the  secessionists,  as 
is  charged  in  the  article,  then  Major  Anderson  must  have  been  a  party  to 
the  treason;  and  if  he  informed  the  new  President,  on  the  4th  of  March,  as 
is  said  to  be  the  case,  that  he  could  not  hold  the  fort,  then  he  acted  out  his 
part  fully  in  aiding  to  place  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  Cabinet  exactly  where  they 
were,  and  to  compel  them  to  evacuate  the  fortress,  or  to  use  the  garrison  as 
victims,  to  be  slaughtered  on  the  unholy  altar  of  blind  fanaticism  and  mad 
ambition. 

I  know  the  fact  from  Mr.  Lincoln's  most  intimate  friend  and  accredited 
agent,  Mr.  Lamon,  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  professed  a 
desire  to  evacuate  Fort  Sumter,  and  he  (Mr.  Lamon)  actually  wrote  me, 
after  his  return  to  Washington,  that  he  would  be  back  in  a  few  days  to  aid 
in  that  purpose.  Major  Anderson  was  induced  to  expect  the  same  thing,  as 
his  notes  to  me  prove.     I  know  the  fact  that  Mr.  Fox,  of  the  United  States 


?yv/£/5'///. 


MAnuTf^K  rKnuAimrt.  • 


39 

Navy,  after  obtaining  permission  from  me,  upon  the  express  guarantee  of  a 
former  gallant  associate  in  the  navy,  to  visit  Major  Anderson  "  for  pacific 
purposes,"  planned  the  pretended  attempt  to  relieve  and  reinforce  the 
garrison  by  a  fleet,  and  that  Major  Anderson  protested  against  it.  I  now 
believe  that  it  was  all  a  scheme,  and  that  Fox's  disgraceful  expedition  was 
gotten  up  in  concert  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  merely  to  delude  the  Northern 
public  into  the  belief  that  they  intended  to  sustain  and  protect  Major 
Anderson,  when,  in  fact,  according  to  the  article  now  published  for  the 
first  time,  they  decided  to  do  no  such  thing,  and  acted  with  the  deliberate 
intention  to  let  the  garrison  perish,  that  they  might  thereby  excite  the 
North,  and  rouse  them  to  unite  in  this  unholy  and  unnatural  war,  by  which 
the  desperate  and  profligate  leaders  of  an  infuriated  and  lawless  party  might 
gratify  their  vengeance  and  lust  of  power  over  the  ruins  of  their  country, 
and  amid  the  blind  passions  of  a  maddened  people. 

The  document  now  published,  and  the  peculiar  circumstances,  show  the 
basest  and  most  infamous  motives  that  ever  actuated  the  rulers  of  any 
nation,  except,  perhaps,  in  the  days  of  the  first  French  revolixtion,  when 
history  shows  that  wholesale  murder  was  often  planned  by  insurrectionists 
in  Paris,  under  the  deliberate  guidance  of  malignant  leaders,  whose  whole 
objects  were  universal  phmder  and  murder,  in  order  to  exterminate  one 
party  and  ride  into  power  themselves. 

A  moment's  review  of  the  line  of  argument  pursued  in  the  article,  will 
show  that  the  policy  finally  adopted  in  regard  to  Fort  Sumter  was  intended 
and  desired  by  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  advisers  to  lead  to  a  war,  not  to  be 
regulated  by  the  rules  and  usages  among  civilized  and  enlightened  people, 
but  to  one  of  rapine,  murder,  and  utter  extermination  of  the  people  against 
whom  it  was  intended  to  be  waged,  founded  upon  no  principle  of  right, 
seeking  not  to  reestablish  any  disputed  authority,  or  accomplish  any  other 
object  than  to  gratify  a  lust  for  power  and  revenge. 

For  the  purpose  of  directly  proving  the  motives  and  impulses  of  the 
United  States  Government  in  the  inauguration  of  this  war,  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  make  several  extracts  from  the  article  in  question,  as  they  will  serve, 
also,  to  direct  the  special  attention  of  the  public  to  those  portions  which 
most  vividly  prove  the  unhallowed  purposes  of  President  Lincoln  and  his 
advisers. 

One  of  the  chief  ends  of  the  article  seems  to  have  been  the  proof  of 
treason  on  the  part  of  President  Buchanan,  and  through  all  of  it  runs  the 
oft  repeated  "alternative"  left  them  by  him,  of  "permitting  Major  Ander- 
son and  his  command  to  starve  within  fifteen  daj's,  or  of  ignominiously 
abandoning  it  to  a  nest  of  traitors,"  &c.  This  "alternative"  is  dwelt  upon 
as  if  to  direct  special  attention  to  it;  and  this  very  "alternative"  proves, 
above  all  the  rest,  the  purpose  which  they  had  in  view  when  they  adopted 


40 

tlig^r  final  policy.  It  is  argued,  and  very  elaborately,  too,  tliat  the  purpose 
of  President  Lincoln  was  to  "  preserve  peace,"  not  to  "  make  war ;"  to 
"  protect  the  sacred  Constitution"  confided  to  his  keeping,  and  to  gain  over, 
by  his  avowedly  peaceful  objects,  those  who  had  defied  that  ''  Constitution" 
and  broken  its  laws.  It  is  asserted  that  President  Lincoln  could  not 
suppress  the  "  tears"  of  anguish  which  his  signing  the  order  for  thfe  evacu- 
ation of  Fort  Sumter  called  forth,  and  it  is  said,  too,  that  he  desired  to 
"discharge  his  duty  to  humanity;"  and  yet  he  has  chosen  to  "  discharge" 
that  "  duty"  in  the  singular  way  of  resolving  on  a  policy  which,  in  his  oion 
words,  he  knew  would  "  raise  throughout  the  mighty  North  a  feeling  of 
indignation  which,  in  ninety  days,  would  have  emancipated  every  slave  on 
the  continent,  and  driven  their  masters  into  the  sea." 

The  sacrifice  was  made;  Anderson  and  his  command  were  forced  to 
become  liable  as  victims  of  fanaticism ;  Fort  Sumter  was  wrapt  in  flames ; 
and  yet,  forsooth,  they  tell  us  that  the  only  man  who  could  have  prevented 
it  was  "  resolved  to  discharge  his  duty  to  humanity,"  and  that  his  purpose 
was  "  peace" — his  aversion  "war."  His  "  purpose"  was  changed,  and  he 
resolved  to  bring  on  this  unhallowed  war.  It  is  a  Grovernment  actuated 
with  these  feelings  that  we  are  to  defend  ourselves  against ;  it  is  this  kind  of 
war,  then,  that  the  people  cf  the  South  are  to  meet ;  and,  under  these 
circumstances,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  publish  the  article  in  question,  for  the 
information  of  the  people  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  for  the  cool  and 
unbiassed  contemplation  of  the  civilized  world. 

A  war  thus  inaugurated — from  such  motives  and  under  such  circum- 
stances— surely  can  never  meet  with  the  favor  of  Heaven.  A  people 
educated  and  trained  up  to  constitutional  liberty  can  never,  for  any  length 
of  time,  sustain  such  a  war. 

F.  W.  PICKENS. 


ABANDONMENT  OF  FORT  SUMTER— NECESSITY  KNOWS  NO 

LAW. 

There  are  periods  in  the  history  of  nations  and  individuals,  when  the 
force  of  even  this  proverb  is  illustrated.  The  law,  or  rather  the  demands 
of  justice,  self-respect,  national  honor,  and  the  vindication  of  our  nationality 
in  the  eyes  of  Europe,  all  demand  that  we  should  retain  possession  of  Fort 
Sumter  at  any  and  every  sacrifice ;  and  no  man  in  this  nation  is  more  deeply 
impressed  with  the  paramount  importance  of  so  doing  than  is  Abraham 
Lincoln,  the  President  of  the  United  States.  He  feels  and  recognizes  his 
duty  in  the  premises,  but  the  law  of  necessity  steps  in,  puts  at  defiance  his 
wishes  and  his  duty,  and  sternly  forbids  his  attempting  to  hold  or  relieve 
the  noble  fortress  so  promptly  snatched  from  the  hands  of  the  rebels  and 


z 


41 

traitors  of  Charleston  by  the  timely  action  of  Major  Anderson.  Buchanan 
and  his  traitor  Cabinet  had  deliberately  planned  the  robbing  of  our 
arsenals  under  the  superintendence  of,  and  with  the  connivance  of,  the 
miserable  fellow  Floyd,  whose  portrait  now  hangs  so  conspicuously  in  the 
Rogues'  Gallery  of  our  city  police;  and  we  all  know  that  when  Major 
Anderson  took  possession  of  Fort  Sumter,  Floyd  demanded  its  restoration 
to  the  rebels,  and  Buchanan  actually  yielded  to  the  demand,  until 
threatened  with  danger  to  his  person  if  he  ventured  upon  any  such  act  of 
treachery.  He  yielded  to  a  stern  necessity ;  but  in  yielding,  he  determined 
to  accomplish  by  management  and  finesse  what  he  had  not  the  courage  to 
do  openly.  He  accordingly  refused  to  permit  the  fort  to  be  reinforced,  as  it 
could  have  been  in  those  days,  with  the  necessary  men  and  stores  to  enable 
it  to  hold  out  for  a  year,  at  least,  against  any  force  which  could  be  brought 
against  it;  and  it  was  not  until  after  Morris'  Island  had  been  fortified,  that 
he  sanctioned  the  abortive  attempt  at  succor  made  by  the  Star  of  the  West, 
and  even  countermanded  that  order  before  it  was  carried  into  efi"ect. 

From  Christmas  until  the  4th  of  March,  the  traitors  and  rebels  of 
Charleston  and  the  cotton  States  received  every  countenance  and  support 
from  Mr.  Buchanan  which  could  be  afforded  them ;  and  when  he  retired 
from  office,  on  the  4th  instant,  he  gloated  over  the  conviction  that  he  had 
fostered  rebellion  and  treason  until  they  had  become  so  rampant  that  they 
were  beyond  the  control  of  his  successor.  And  the  one  great  source  of  his 
glorification  was,  that  Fort  Sumter  was  without  provisions;  and  that  of 
necessity,  the  garrison  must  surrender  from  starvation  before  it  would  be  in 
the  power  of  the  Republican  Administration  to  relie-ve  and  reinforce  it. 

Of  course  Abraham  Lincoln  could  know  nothing  of  this  treason ;  and 
when  in  his  inaugural  he  spoke  of  occup^nng  the  public  forts  and  collecting 
the  revenue,  he  little  dreamed  that  his  predecessor  had  treasonably 
arranged  to  make  the  abandonment  of  Fort  Sumter  a  political  necessity.  He 
was  soon  apprised,  however,  that  the  treason  of  his  predecessor  had  cun- 
ningly devised  for  him  the  most  serious  mortification  that  could  be  inflicted; 
and  that  he  had  presented  to  him  the  alternative  of  permitting  Anderson 
and  his  command  to  starve,  or  promptly  to  withdraw  them,  and  ignominiously 
permit  the  fort  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels.  To  reinforce  the 
garrison,  or  to  supply  them  with  provisions,  are  cf|ually  impossible,  for 
James  Buchanan  and  his  associate  traitors  designedly  refused  to  do  so  while 
it  was  in  their  power  to  do  it,  and  compelled  the  Commandant  of  the  fort 
quietly  to  permit  the  construction  of  works  in  his  immediate  vicinity  and 
under  the  range  of  his  guns,  which  would  effectually  prevent  his  being 
relieved  when  an  honest  man  assumed  the  Government,  on  the  4th  of 
March.  Buchanan's  final  act  of  treason  has  been  consummated.  He 
prevented  the  last  Congress  from  passing  a  law  giving  power  to  the  Execu- 


42 

tive  to  call  for  volunteers  to  occupy  and  re-capture  the  public  forts  and 
arsenals,  and  he  designedly  left  Fort  Sumter  in  a  position  which  renders 
relief  physically  impossible  without  an  army  of  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand 
men,  and  the  employment  of  a  naval  force  greater  than  we  can  command ; 
and  he  and  his  myrmidons  now  exultingly  and  tauntingly  say  to  the 
Republican  President:  "Do  your  worst.  We  have  designedly  withheld 
from  you  the  means  of  relieving  and  holding  Fort  Sumter,  and  we  invite 
you  to  the  pleasing  alternative  of  permitting  Anderson  and  his  command  to 
starve  within  fifteen  days,  or  of  ignominiously  abandoning  it  to  a  nest  of 
traitors  and  rebels,  whom  we  have  nursed  into  existence  as  the  only  certain 
mode  of  destroying  the  Republican  party." 

Such  are  the  simple  facts  of  the  case  as  they  are  presented  to  the  new 
President  upon  his  assuming  the  reins  of  Government;  and  we  speak 
advisedly  and  from  knowledge  when  we  say  that  while  the  country  has  been 
wickedly  made  to  believe  that  the  time  of  the  Administration  has  been 
occupied  with  the  disposal  of  offices,  four-fifths  of  all  the  hours  spent  in 
consultation  by  the  Cabinet  have  been  devoted  to  the  consideration  of  the 
all-important  question — how  to  save  Fort  Sumter,  and  avert  from  the 
Government  the  dishonor  of  abandoning  it  to  the  miserable  traitors  who,  for 
months,  have  been  in  open  rebellion  against  the  authority  of  the  Govern- 
ment. Generals  Scott  and  Totten,  and  all  the  military  and  naval  chiefs  at 
Washington,  have  been  consulted ;  every  plan  which  military  science  could 
conceive,  or  military  daring  suggest,  has  been  attentively  considered  and 
maturely  weighed,  with  a  hope,  at  least,  that  the  work  of  the  traitor 
Buchanan  was  not  so  complete  as  he  and  his  associates  supposed.  But  all 
in  vain.  There  stands  the  isolated,  naked  fact — Fort  Sumter  cannot  be 
relieved  because  of  the  treason  of  the  late  Administration,  and  Major 
Anderson  and  his  command  must  perish  by  starvation  unless  withdrawn. 

What,  then,  is  to  be  done  ?  Could  the  President  leave  them  to  starve  ? 
Cui  hono  ?  Would  the  sacrifice  of  a  handful  of  gallant  men  to  the  treason 
of  thieves  and  rebels,  have  been  grateful  to  their  countrymen  ?  But,  says 
the  indignant  yet  thoughtless  patriot,  "  think  of  the  humiliation  and 
dishonor  of  abandoning  Sumter  to  the  rebels."  We  do  think  of  it,  and 
weep  tears  of  blood  over  the  humiliation  thus  brought  upon  the  country  by 
the  traitor  President  who  has  just  retired  to  Wheatland  to  gloat  over  his 
consummated  treason.  And  we  are  assured,  too,  and  do  not  doubt  the  truth 
of  the  assurance,  that  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  compelled  to  yield  his 
reluctant  consent  to  this  most  humiliating  concession  to  successful  treason, 
he  did  not  attempt  to  suppress  the  sorrow  and  tears  which  it  called  forth. 
But  he  had  no  alternative.  '^  Necessity  knows  no  law ;"  and  to  save  the 
lives  of  the  gallant  men  who  have  so  long  held  Fort  Sumter  against  an 
overwhelming  force  of  heartless  traitors  and  wicked  and  unprincipled  rebels, 


Enfi«ly  C1i»'HdU, 


f mm  t  L^oM'mijjw  WEnd; 


^^z^>«^^-«-f^!i^       t/C^^/¥. 


y  r> 


m> 


EliG-RAX/iii)  i'UK  'i-HL  l:.UL,li.^^iiU'  di  i-j-.tviMt,  &  'jII^- 


c^V^^^^^<^^Si/ 


IRTH  (>H>'SinkKT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


whose  treason  has  been  steeped  in  fraud  and  theft,  vulgarly  known  as 
"  Southern  chivalry,"  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  the  discharge 
of  a  duty  to  humanity,  has  signed  the  order  for  the  evacuation  of  Sumter. 

Had  war,  not  peace,  been  his  object — had  he  desired  to  raise  throughout 
the  mighty  North  a  feeling  of  indignation,  which,  in  ninety  days,  would 
have  emancipated  every  slave  on  the  continent  and  driven  their  masters  into 
the  sea  if  needs  be — he  had  only  to  have  said  :  "  let  the  garrison  of  Fort 
Sumter  do  their  duty  and  perish  beneath  its  walls ;  and  on  the  heads  of  the 
traitors  and  rebels  of  the  slavery  propagandists  be  the  consequences."  Such 
a  decision  would  have  carried  joy  to  the  bosoms  of  Phillips  and  Garrison 
and  their  fanatical  associates,  who  so  justly  consider  abolitionism  and 
disunion  synonymous ',  but  it  would  have  brought  upon  the  country  such 
scenes  of  horror  as  the  mind  shrinks  from  contemplating.  Verily,  the 
blood  of  the  martyrs  would  have  been  the  seed  of  "  negro  emancipation." 

For  every  patriot  soldier  thus  sacrificed  to  the  revival  of  the  African 
slave  trade  and  the  establishment  of  a  hideous  slaveocracy  at  the  South,  ten 
thousand  negro  slaves  would  have  been  emancipated,  and  as  many  of  their 
masters  been  driven  into  the  ocean  to  expiate  their  crimes  on  earth. 

But  Mr.  Lincoln  desired  to  rouse  no  such  feeling  of  revenge  among  the 
people  of  the  free  States.  He  knew — no  man  knew  better — that  he  had 
but  to  hold  on  to  Fort  Sumter,  agreeably  to  the  plainly  expressed  will  of  the 
people,  and  leave  its  gallant  garrison  to  the  fate  prepared  for  them  by  the 
rebels  and  traitors,  to  insure  qn  uprising  which  would  at  once  wipe  out 
slavery  from  the  face  of  the  country,  and  with  it  all  engaged  in  this 
atrocious  rebellion  against  the  Grovernment.  But  his  purpose  is  peace,  not 
war.  His  object  is  to  restore,  to  re-build  and  to  preserve  the  Government 
and  the  Constitution  which  enacted  it;  and  his  great  aim  is,  while  maintain- 
ing the  Constitution  and  enforcing  the  laws,  to  bring  back  good  men  to  their 
allegiance,  and  leave  the  thieves,  and  rogues,  and  braggarts  who  compose 
the  great  mass  of  the  rebels,  under  the  cognomen  of  *'  Southern  chivalry," 
to  the  uninterrupted  enjoyment  of  their  own  precious  society  and  the 
reflections  which  time  must  awake  even  in  them.  He  is  mindful  of  hi.s 
oath,  "  registered  in  heaven,"  to  preserve  the  Constitution  and  enforce  the 
laws;  and  he  feels  that  his  mission  is  to  reclaim  and  not  extinguish,  or  most 
assuredly  he  could  have  left  Fort  Sumter  to  its  fate ;  and  that  fate  would 
have  been  speedy,  certain  and  absolute  annihilation  to  the  traitors  now  in 
rebellion  against  the  Government,  and  to  the  very  existence  of  tho  institu- 
tion of  slavery  on  the  American  continent.  But  he  ha.'*  been  faithful  to  his 
oath  of  office  and  to  the  Constitution ;  and  by  yielding  to  tho  necessity  of 
the  case  and  listening  to  the  cry  of  humanity,  slavery  has  had  accorded  to 
it  its  la-st  victory  over  freedom  and  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

The  deed  has  been  accomplished  ;  the  sacrifice  has  been  made ;  traitors 


44 

and  rebels  are  again  triumpliant;  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes  arc  again  to  be 
dishonored  in  the  sight  of  the  nation  and  of  astonished  Europe.  The  flag 
of  the  Union  is  to  be  pulled  down,  and  the  bloody  banner  of  pirates,  free- 
booters, rebels  and  traitors,  is  to  be  run  up  to  wave  triumphantly  over 
Sumter  and  be  saluted  from  hundreds  of  guns  in  the  rebel  camp,  amid  the 
cheers  of  thousands  whose  senseless  gasconade  and  braggadocio  vauntings 
have  long  since  disgusted  brave  men  and  honest  citizens.  And  yet,  we 
approve  the  act.  A  traitor  President  rendered  it  a  necessity ;  and  humanity 
demanded  that  Abraham  Lincoln  should  sacrifice  all  personal  feelings,  and 
gracefully  yield  to  that  necessity  and  the  deliberately  planned  treason  upon 
which  it  is  based.  His  countrymen  will  sustain  him  in  this  discharge  of 
a  humiliating  but  imperative  duty ;  but  with  him  they  feel  that  the  account 
is  now  closed  with  treason.  There  is  nothing  now  to  yield  to  traitors — 
nothing  more  to  sacrifice  in  order  to  give  slavery  and  the  slave  trade  the 
odor  of  nationality.  In  future  the  President  of  the  United  States  has  only 
laws  to  enforce  and  a  Constitution  to  sustain ;  and  woe  be  to  them  who 
thwart  him  in  the  performance  of  his  duty,  and  to  himself,  if  he  dares  to 
shrink  from  the  performance  of  his  whole  duty. 


No.  30. 


[governor    PICKENS'    speech    to    the    citizens    op   CHARLESTON,    THE 
NIGHT   AFTER   THE   REDUCTION    OF   FORT   SUMTER.] 

Gentlemen  :  I  am  in  very  poor  condition  for  speaking  in  this  open  air, 
in  such  a  noisy  place,  with  the  passing  of  vehicles  before  us.  But  I  thank 
you,  gentlemen,  for  the  very  kind  manner  in  which  you  have  been  pleased 
to  welcome  me.  It  is  indeed  a  glorious  and  exulting  occasion  that  has 
called  you  together.  It  is  an  occasion  well  calculated  to  awaken  the  proudest 
and  most  glorious  feelings  that  can  belong  to  any  free  people.  The  events 
of  the  last  day  or  two  are  well  calculated  to  fill  the  heart  with  gratitude  to 
a  superintending  Providence  for  his  kindness  in  protecting  so  many  brave 
and  good  men  from  misfortunes  incident  to  all.  Although,  fellow  citizens, 
I  do  not  pretend  to  say  that  the  triumphant  and  victorious  results  are  in  any 
degree  scarcely  attributable  to  any  skill  of  mine,  yet  I  will  say  that  there 
has  been  no  citizen  in  this  wide  spread  land  who,  for  the  last  three  months, 
has  felt  such  a  deep  and  intense  anxiety  as  I  have.  There  has  not  been  a 
single  day,  nor  a  single  night,  which  has  passed  over  me,  that  has  not  filled 
my  heart  with  the  deepest  anxiety  for  my  beloved  country. 


AB38.A3ir^JlMr  ]L>KW(O(0jri,l^. 


irtmmUlnttlCjmr'mif*-r'^mU  in  "Itf  nili^t    <    ■  u» 'J-f«>  lainilttsllMMlcnftd; 


45 

When  I  reflected  that  so  many  brave  and  patriotic  young  men,  who, 
called  to  the  rescue  of  the  State,  were  placed  somewhat  under  my  care,  and 
that  they  composed  the  flower,  the  hope  and  the  pride  of  South  Caro- 
lina, I  confess  to  you  that  often,  often  at  night,  my  heart  has  sunk  under 
me  with  the  deep  responsibilities  under  which  I  labored.  I  know  I  have 
often  been  blamed  by  the  impetuous  and  the  zealous  because  I  have  not 
been  quick  enough  to  attempt  an  attack  upon  Sumter,  and  to  bring  these 
young  men  under  her  raking  fire.  But,  fellow-citizens,  believe  me  when  I 
tell  you  that  I  abstained  because  I  clearly  saw  that  the  day  was  coming 
when  we  would  triumph  beyond  the  power  of  man  to  put  us  down. 

When  I  was  called  upon  to  preside  over  the  destinies  of  this  State,  after 
an  absence  of  three  or  four  years  from  home,  I  felt  that  the  heaviest  and 
most  painful  situation  of  my  life  had  come.  But,  so  far  as  I  was  concerned, 
as  long  as  I  was  Chief  JMagistrate  of  South  Carolina,  I  was  determined  to 
maintain  our  separate  independence  and  freedom  at  any  and  at  every 
hazard.  I  felt  that  the  State  was  in  a  peculiar  position ;  that  we  were 
immediately  and  at  the  first  thrown  upon  the  most  scientific  and  expensive 
branches  of  modern  warfare.  We  were  then  but  ill-prepared  to  meet  the  sud- 
den issues  that  might  be  forced  upon  us,  so  that  our  cause  had  to  present  firm- 
ness and  decision  on  the  one  side,  with  great  caution  and  forbearance  on  the 
other.  We  were,  in  fact,  walking  alone  over  a  dangerous  gulf.  The  least 
misstep  or  want  of  coolness  might  have  precipitated  our  great  cause  into 
endless  ruin.  With  the  heavy  ordnance  we  had  to  procure,  and  the  heavy 
batteries  that  we  were  compelled  to  erect,  I  felt  under  these  circumstances 
it  required  time,  exact  calculation  and  high  science,  and  it  would  have  been 
madness,  it  would  have  been  folly,  to  have  rushed  the  brave  and  patriotic 
men  in  my  charge  upon  a  work  that  was  pronounced  the  Gibraltar  of  the 
South.  But  when  the  proper  time  had  come,  when  I  knew  we  were  pre- 
pared, there  was  not  a  moment  that  I  was  not  anxious  and  ready  to  strike 
the  blow  for  my  State  and  the  independence  of  my  country,  let  it  lead  to 
what  it  might,  even  if  it  led  to  blood  and  ruin.  Thank  God  the  day  has 
come — thank  God  the  war  is  open,  and  we  will  conquer  or  perish.  They 
have  vauntingly  arrayed  their  twenty  millions  of  men  against  us ;  they  have 
«xultingly,  also,  arrayed  their  navy,  and  they  have  called  us  but  a  handful  of 
men,  a  weak  and  isolated  State  full  of  pride,  and  what  they  call  chivalry, 
and  with  the  hated  institution  of  slavery,  as  they  supposed  a  source  of 
weakness,  too,  but  which,  in  fact,  is  a  source  of  strength  in  war;  and  they 
have  defied  us.  But  we  have  rallied ;  we  have  met  them,  and  met  them  in 
the  issues  they  have  tendered  in  their  stronghold,  by  which  they  expected 
to  subjugate  our  country.  We  have  met  them  and  we  have  conquered. 
We  have  defeated  their  twenty  millions,  and  we  have  made  the  proud  flag 
of  the  stars  and  stripes,  that  never  was  lowered  before  to  any  nation  on  this 


46 

earth — we  have  lowered  it  in  humility  before  the  Palmetto  and  the  Con- 
federate flags,  and  we  have  compelled  them  to  raise  by  their  side  the  white 
flag,  and  ask  for  an  honorable  surrender. 

They  have  surrendered,  and  this  proud  fortress  that  was  attempted  to  be 
a  fortress  for  despotism,  has  now  become,  as  its  name  indicates,  a  fortress  for 
our  independence.  Besides,  one  of  their  most  scientific  officers,  on  the  26th 
of  last  December,  escaped  from  what  he  called  a  weak  and  untenable  fort, 
and  went  over  to  this  strong  and  powerful  position,  because  he  could  main- 
tain himself,  and  because  it  was  pronounced  the  key  of  the  harbor.  He 
left  Fort  Moultrie  because  it  was  untenable  and  at  the  mercy  of  Sumter. 
He  chose  Sumter  as  his  fortress.  We  took  the  one  he  had  deserted,  and 
with  it  whipped  him  to  his  heart's  content.  And  this  proud  fort  of  ours, 
so  consecrated  in  the  history  of  our  country,  has  again,  on  the  13th  day  of 
April,  achieved  our  independence  as  it  did  in  the  memorable  days  of  the 
revolution.  Yes,  it  was  exultingly  proclaimed  that  we  had  not  the  power  to 
do  it.  We  were  ridiculed,  and  we  were  held  up  as  the  chivalry  of  this 
country,  and  they  attempted  to  throw  upon  us  even  scorn  and  contempt. 

Fellow-citizens,  the  danger  may  not  yet  be  over,  and  I  would  be  the  last 
man  to  counsel  any  premature  or  extreme  measures.  I  never  would  counsel 
my  fellow-citizens  in  the  day  of  proud  victory  to  exhibit  anything  else  but 
a  noble  forbearance  and  a  manly  generosity.  The  man  who  defended  that 
fort  has  many  of  the  attributes  of  a  brave  soldier.  Let  us  not  only  show 
that  we  are  a  brave  people,  but  that  we  are  also  generous  and  magnani- 
mous, and  that  we  would  not  use  any  extreme  or  exulting  language  cal- 
culated to  be  looked  upon  as  unworthy  of  a  high-toned  and  chivalrous 
race.  Remember  that  the  danger  is  not  yet  over.  We,  perhaps,  may 
have  just  commenced  the  opening  of  events  that  may  not  end  in  our  day 
and  generation.  Remember  that  there  is  now  a  hostile  fleet  of  seven  sail 
off  your  harbor,  directed  by  bitter  and  malignant  foes.  They  have  come 
here  proudly  scorning  and  contemning  your  position.  They  may  attempt  to 
enter,  but  I  say  to  them  this  night  in  defiance,  let  them  come,  let  them 
come.  If  they  do,  although  we  may  not  wrap  them  in  flames,  as  we  have 
Sumter,  we  will  wrap  them  in  the  waves  and  sink  them  too  deep  ever  to  be 
reached  by  pity  or  mercy.  • 

But  three  months  ago  I  was  ridiculed  for  attempting  to  fortify  the 
Channel  on  Morris'  Island,  and  I  was  ridiculed  for  attempting  to  hold  Fort 
Moultrie  under  the  fire  of  Sumter.  I  was  ridiculed,  too,  for  attempting  to 
keep  out  what  they  call  the  United  States  Navy.  Many  men,  although  our 
best  men,  thought  it  was  a  fruitless  undertaking.  But  in  the  short  period  of 
three  months  we  have  the  Channel  fortified,  so  that  at  this  moment  it  defies 
the  proud  Navy  of  the  United  States. 

We  have  had  a  great  many  delicate  and  peculiar  relations  since  the  20th 


Majok  p.   G.  T.  BEAUEEGAED. 


r  j«f /  /  reP^J'^.Ji^ . 


47 

of  December  last.  We  took  the  lead  in  coming  out  of  the  old  Union  and  in 
forming-  this  new  Confederacy.  We  therefore  had  certain  relations  to 
those  who  were  to  come  out  and  stand  by  our  side.  We  owed  a  great  deal 
to  those  who  were  expected  to  come  with  us.  We  were  bound  to  consult 
their  feelings  and  their  interests,  and  it  was  due  that  we  should  be  forbear- 
ing as  well  as  free.  We  are  now  one  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  they 
have  sent  us  a  brave  and  scientific  ofiicer,  to  whom  much  of  the  credit  of 
this  day's  triumph  is  due.  He  has  led  you  to  victory,  and  will  lead  you 
to  more  if  occasion  offers. 

I  hope  on  to-morrow,  Sabbath  though  it  be,  that  under  the  protection  of 
Providence,  and  under  the  orders  of  General  Beauregard,  Commander  of 
our  forces  from  the  Confederate  States,  you  shall  have  the  proud  gratifi- 
cation of  seeing  the  Palmetto  flag  raised  upon  that  fortress,  and  the  Con- 
federate flag  of  these  free  and  independent  States  side  by  side  with  it ;  and 
there  they  shall  float  forever,  in  defiance  of  any  power  that  man  can  bring 
against  them.  We  have  humbled  the  flag  of  the  United  States,  and  as  long 
as  I  have  the  honor  to  preside  as  your  Chief  Magistrate,  so  help  me  God, 
there  is  no  power  on  this  earth  shall  ever  lower  from  that  fortress  those 
flags,  unless  they  be  lowered  and  trailed  in  a  sea  of  blood.  I  can  here  say 
to  you  it  is  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  this  country  that  the  stars  and 
stripes  have  been  humbled.  They  have  triumphed  for  seventy  years,  but  to- 
day, on  the  13th  day  of  April,  they  have  been  humbled,  and  humbled  before 
the  glorious  little  State  of  South  Carolina.  The  stars  and  stripes  have  been 
lowered  before  your  eyes  this  day,  but  there  are  no  flames  that  shall  ever 
lower  the  flag  of  South  Carolina  while  I  have  the  honor  to  preside  as  your 
Chief  Magistrate.  And  I  pronounce  here,  before  the  civilized  world,  your 
independence  is  baptized  in  blood,  your  freedom  is  won  upon  a  glorious 
battle-field,  and  you  are  free  now  and  forever,  in  defiance  of  a  world  in  arms. 

We  have  gone  through,  under  the  guidance  of  Providence,  so  far, 
successfully  and  triumphantly.  We  have  met  the  danger  and  the  peril 
amid  the  storm  and  the  booming  of  cannon ;  and  yet,  wonderful  to  say, 
triumphant  and  glorious  as  the  result  has  been,  there  has  not  been  a  single 
human  being  sacrificed  in  this  cause  so  much  identified  with  the  liberty  and 
the  independence  of  our  country.  This  must  be  the  finger  of  Providence. 
We  at  first  stood  alone,  but  we  are  now  in  a  new  Confederacy  of  States, 
calculated  to  protect  the  peace  and  independence  of  our  country,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  exercise  a  wise  forbearance  and  generous  and  manly  conduct 
towards  all  other  nations. 

All  we  ask  is  plain  justice,  liberality,  honor  and  truth  from  others,  and 
all  we  ever  shall  submit  to  is,  and,  I  trust,  we  ever  shall  extend  to  all  others, 
the  liberality,  the  justice,  the  forbearance  and  moderation  which  become  an 
enlightened  and  a  great  people. 


4« 

In  the  events  wliicli  have  developed  themselves  in  the  last  few  days,  we 
are  at  least  without  blame.  This  fort  was  held  up  as  the  fortress  by  which 
we  were  to  be  subjugated  and  kept  permanently  under  the  control  of  a 
Grovernment  we  had  repudiated  and  that  was  odious  to  us.  We  made  every 
advance  that  reasonable  men  could  make  to  ask  for  its  possession,  and  there 
was  nothing  but  the  desire  to  subjugate  that  could  at  all  make  it  an  object 
of  such  importance  to  be  possessed  by  a  Government  from  which  we  had 
withdrawn.  It  was  peremptorily  refused,  and  I  was  informed  from  the 
highest  quarters  that  it  was  to  be  supplied,  and  that  those  supplies  should 
be  sustained,  if  necessary,  by  force. 

Under  these  circumstances,  there  was  no  alternative  but  to  make  the  last 
sad  appeal  to  arms  and  the  God  of  Battles,  and  the  result  of  this  day  has 
triumphantly  shown  that  we  were  right  and  our  opponents  wrong. 

Now,  fellow-citizens,  go  to  your  homes.  Be  moderate,  and  abstain  from 
every  act  and  every  sentiment  of  extreme  language  or  unworthy  violence. 
Show  that  you  are  not  only  really  free,  but  that  you  deserve  to  be  free ; 
keep  cool,  keep  firm,  keep  united.  A  brave  people  are  always  generous  and 
always  magnanimous.  We  can  meet  our  foes  clad  in  steel  and  make  them 
feel  the  weight  of  our  metal  upon  any  field  of  battle,  but  at  the  same  time 
we  can  treat  them  with  that  liberality  and  noble  magnanimity  that  always 
belong  to  a  generous  and  a  brave  people. 

I  said,  on  the  17th  of  December  last,  on  an  occasion  similar  to  this,  that 
true.  South  Carolina  stood  alone,  but  in  this  there  was  nothing  to  fear,  for 
she  had  on  a  memorable  occasion  previous  to  the  declaration  of  independ- 
ence itself,  stood  alone  and  fought  the  battle  of  Fort  Moultrie,  where  she 
had  sunk  the  ships  of  one  of  the  proudest  nations  of  the  earth.  And  I 
said  to  you  that,  on  the  bloody  battle  field  of  Churubusco,  our  noble 
regiment  had  marched  across  that  field  under  a  ^ery  storm  such  as  has 
seldom  been  seen,  and  that  if  need  be  she  could  now  stand  alone  again  and 
fight  alone  for  her  independence  and  her  liberty.  And  now,  fellow-citizens, 
on  this,  the  13th  day  of  April,  1861,  she  has  again  fought  alone  and 
defeated  an  arrogant  and  assuming  power,  and  she  has  gloriously  triumphed 
alone,  and  thus  again  Fort  Moultrie,  which  was  so  dear  in  our  independence 
of  1776,  has  again  answered,  and  is  consecrated  and  baptized  over  again  in 
our  independence  and  freedom  of  1861. 

I  studiously  declined  receiving  volunteers,  who  so  nobly  and  so  gallantly 
ofiered  themselves,  from  other  States,  because  we  had  so  many  among  our- 
selves who  desired  a  place  of  danger  and  of  peril,  and  demanded  it  as  a 
right.  I  desired  besides,  as  we  had  begun  it  first  and  alone  without  consul- 
tation, and  as  some  said,  rashly,  I  desired  under  these  circumstances,  that  if 
we  had  to  fight  for  our  independence  again  that  the  battle  should  be  fought 
and  won  by  South  Carolina  alone,  upon  the  same  bloody  field  where  she  had 


^:^#^^^-^^iei%i^'  ^y 


C  B  Builxardvi^n  .Hituish. 


49 

fought  for  her  independence  in  the  days  of  her  first  revolution.  True,  true, 
we  owe  much  to  science  and  to  the  gallantry  of  Gen.  Beauregard,  who  was 
sent  to  us  by  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States.  We  do  owe  to  him  all 
honor  and  all  gratitude  for  his  high  and  manly  bearing  and  noble  conduct ; 
but  as  far  as  our  own  companies,  our  battalions,  our  regiments  and  our 
men  were  concerned,  the  triumphs  of  this  day  have  been  due  literally 
to  South  Carolina  troops  alone.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  this  by  way 
of  exultation,  but  as  due  to  the  truth  of  history,  and  I  say  it  because 
South  Carolina  has  been  peculiarly  singled  out,  abused,  traduced  and 
sneered  at  as  being  too  weak  and  too  small  to  defend  herself,  and  was 
accused,  too,  of  arrogance  and  presumption.  But  this  day  shows  that,  weak 
as  we  were  supposed  to  be,  we  have  defied  the  power  of  our  enemies,  and 
defeated  them  upon  their  sought  and  chosen  battle  field. 

And  now  I  here,  in  the  name  of  South  Carolina,  return  the  gratitude  of 
the  State  to  those  gallant  and  intelligent  officers  who  have  come  forward 
and  so  generously  served  their  State  in  this  her  day  of  trial.  And  they  are 
too  numerous  even  to  mention  in  detail ;  and  I  return  the  thanks  and  the 
gratitude  of  the  State  to  those  brave,  true  and  patriotic  young  men  who 
have  left  their  business,  who  have  sacrificed  their  greatest  interests  to  come 
forward  and  to  seek  eagerly  to  defend  their  country  when  it  was  supposed 
that  peril,  danger,  and  even  death,  were  inevitable.  It  is  indeed  to  them 
not  only  a  glorious  day  of  triumph,  but  I,  too,  with  feelings  of  deep 
gratitude,  am  enabled  to  return  them  back  to  their  fond  homes  and  kindred 
uninjured,  and  with  the  proud  consciousness  that  the  honor  of  their  State 
has  been  unstained,  and  that  their  gallantry  has  been  shown  by  the  noble 
manner  in  which  they  have  manned  the  batteries  for  their  country's  inde- 
pendence. It  is  to  those  men  and  those  officers  that  we  owe  everything; 
and  I  do  not  pretend  to  claim  anything  myself,  except  that  m}^  heart  has  been 
filled  with  deep  anxiety,  and  T  have  spent  my  nights  in  painful  and  constant 
examination  of  all  the  details  and  all  the  points  that  might  be  necessary,  not 
only  to  save  the  lives  of  our  brave  men,  but  to  defend  the  independence  of 
my  country,  and  when  the  day  had  come,  at  the  proper  time  to  strike,  and 
to  strike  for  her  independence,  at  any  and  at  every  hazard,  let  the  con- 
sequences be  what  they  may. 

We  have  now  taught  a  great  lesson  to  this  Confederacy.  It  is  now  clear 
that  for  all  purposes  of  justice,  of  equality,  and  of  common  liberty,  our 
American  institutions  are  as  strong  83  any  that  have  ever  been  offered  for 
the  government  of  man.  But  when  they  are  perverted  to  the  purposes  of 
injustice  and  fanaticism,  of  insult  and  wrong,  that  those  same  institutions 
are  powerless ;  and  that  when  they  lose  that  power  which  comes  from  right, 
that  as  far  as  the  American  people  arc  concerned  they  arc  impotent  and 
imbecile,  because  the  heart,  the  great  heart  of  the  American  people  in 


50 

reality,  beats  for  what  is  right.  We  theu  stand  upou  the  right.  We  stand 
upon  the  inalienable  right  of  a  people  to  choose  their  own  institutions,  and 
that  all  just  government  rests  upon  the  consent  of  the  governed,  and  that 
any  Government  that  attempts  to  exercise  power  without  this  consent  not 
only  is  unjust  to  a  brave,  true  and  patriotic  people,  but  that  people  can  defy 
that  power,  and  they  can  conquer,  and  they  can  triumph. 

But  let  me  say  again,  fellow-citizens,  that  I  am  in  rather  a  poor  condition 
to  speak  at  this  time  of  night,  under  the  confusion  that  comes  from  a  noisy 
street,  and  I  return  you  my  thanks,  and  hope  that-  there  may  be  no  events 
to  sadden  the  future,  but  that  the  present  glorious  day  will  ever  be  remem- 
bered and  sink  so  deep  into  the  hearts  of  a  grateful  people  as  to  show  that 
by  virtue  and  firmness,  they  can  not  only  be  free,  but  can  prove  to  the  world 
that  they  deserve  to  be  free. 


Note. — The  above  speech  was  delivered  by  Grovernor  Pickens,  from  the 
balcony  of  the  Charleston  Hotel,  on  the  evening  of  the  surrender  of  Fort 
Sumter,  to  a  large  assemblage  of  the  citizens  of  Charleston,  and  is  pub- 
lished just  as  it  was  reported  at  the  time  for  the  Charleston  Courier,  with 
the  exception  of  the  long  and  continued  cheering  which  greeted  the  speaker 
at  every  interval  of  the  address. 


THE  SOUTH  CAROLINA  INSTITUTE,  AT  CHARLESTON,  SOUTH   CAROLINA,  IN  WHICH  THE  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION  WILL  MEET.-[See  preceding  Page.]! 


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